It’s World Book Day and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to honor some amazing bookstores that I adore!
Books are an integral part of life. They make us laugh out loud and ugly cry until our eyes are red and swollen. Books teach us heaps of new things, allow us to time hop and travel the world vicariously through the written word on the page. They help us expand our horizons, express our feelings, hone our creative spirit and embrace diversity.
…and bookstores are the sacred vaults that hold these priceless gems.
Wherever I go, I’m always on the hunt for a good bookstore. Whether it’s a tiny outdoor stall along the Seine or an former camel serai filled with tattered volumes of old textbooks in Fez, I find the history of bookstores equally as fascinating as the books that sit on the shelves.
So, Happy World Book Day! I hope you enjoy my picks.
Livraria Lello
Porto, Portugal
This crown jewel of a bookshop is tucked behind a delicate neo-classical façade on Rua da Carmelitas in Porto. Walk through the doors and you’ll be swiftly swept away by the intricately designed interior. Rumored to have lent inspiration to J.K. Rowling as she wrote the first volume of the Harry Potter series, here you’ll find thousands of books stacked neatly on floor to ceiling gothic shelves. A spectacular double wooden staircase lined with a ruby rub snakes to the upper level where the stained glass ceiling is a masterpiece.
Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights
Bath, England
Yes, this bookstore is just as charming as its name, seemingly plucked from the pages of a Jane Austen novella. It’s scattered with parlor furniture so you can cozy up with the latest in literary fiction or locally authored selections.
Atlantis Books
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is postcard perfect and so is Atlantis Books. What started as a far-flung idea by two college kids drinking wine on vacation in 2002 blossomed into a booklover’s dream. Situated on the bustling main passageway of Oia, the lower levels are tight domed caves overflowing with titles in nearly every language. Climb the narrow stairs to the open-air terrace for spectacular views over the Caldera and the sparkling Aegean Sea.
Ler Devagar
Lisbon, Portugal
This funky bookshop can be found at the LX Factory, an urban enclave of artists, architects and designers in the industrial chic Alcântara neighborhood of Lisbon. Ler Devagar, which translates to “Read Slowly” is located in the perfect space for a bookstore – a former printing press. Sit in silence, sipping coffee or wine or just revel at the impressively enormous walls of books.
Persephone Books
London, England
We stumbled upon this sweet storefront a few years ago on a trip to London. With a narrow, unassuming facade, Persephone Books breathes life back into neglected out-of-print books written primarily by mid-twentieth century female authors. Each of the 125 titles offered are lovingly reprinted with a simple grey cover and feature uniquely styled endpapers with matching bookmarks.
Shakespeare and Company
Paris, France
The quintessential Left Bank literary institution. The original Shakespeare and Company bookstore opened in 1919 at 12 rue de l’Odéon by Sylvia Beach. It was a regular gathering haunt of many great expat writers including Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, T.S. Eliot and Gertrude Stein. In 1951, American George Whitman opened a store with the same name across from Notre Dame Cathedral to continue Beach’s legacy. Today, the ramshackle shop draws awestruck writers and readers from around the world.
Libreria Acqua Alta
Venice, Italy
Venice is an mysterious masked mistress and Libreria Acqua Alta is where she goes to fuel her mind. This darling bookstore is a treasure trove for bibliophiles, full of wonderment and whimsy. Tattered editions are stacked high in row boats and gondolas, lovingly watched over by the resident mannequins. A stone’s throw away from St. Mark’s Square, Libreria Acqua Alta is a must see for anyone visiting The Floating City.
Happy reading! Until next time!