Venezia's Libreria Acqua Alta reopens after flood and pandemic

Libreria Acqua Alta, the historic bookshop in Venice's Santa Maria Formosa district known for its gondola filled with books, has partially reopened after suffering severe damage from the November 12 acqua alta and the subsequent coronavirus lockdown. The flood caused hundreds of thousands of euros in damages and destroyed countless books. Just as owners Luigi Frizzo and his son Lino were recovering from the flood losses, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shop to close in late February. Since April 20, the Veneto region has allowed bookshops to reopen two days a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 am to 3 pm) under strict hygiene rules, including limited entry and mandatory masks. Lino Frizzo expressed that the reopening is a positive step toward normalcy, serving as a service for local residents. The shop can now admit up to eight customers at a time while maintaining social distancing. However, Frizzo worries about the collapse of tourism, which will inevitably lead to a drop in sales. He hopes for a swift return to normalcy.