A view of the El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires, named the world’s most beautiful bookstore by National Geographic in 2019. Photo: AFP
World Book Day, celebrated recently, reminded us to appreciate reading in all its forms, and the places where book lovers once indulged their passion. As literary-based travel rises in popularity, it's the perfect moment to celebrate the world's legendary bookstores and libraries - places that nurture imagination and spark curiosity.
Much more than mere sales outlets, some bookstores have become veritable cultural institutions, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world each year. Such is the case of Daunt Books in Marylebone. Nestled in an Edwardian building in the heart of London, this bookstore has made a name for itself thanks to its specialisation in travel literature. But it's above all the store's architecture that has forged its legend, with oak galleries, elegant balustrades, floral stained-glass windows and an immense glass roof that bathes the space in natural light.
In Buenos Aires, the Ateneo Grand Splendid enthralls as much by its history as by its decor. This unusual bookstore is housed in the former Teatro Grand Splendid, which opened in 1919. Once a tango mecca, it was given a second life as a movie theater, before transforming into a veritable temple of reading. And it's fair to say that this majestic bookstore has retained echoes of the stage, with its frescoed ceilings, elaborate balconies and former dressing rooms converted into cozy reading areas.
In Venice, the Libreria Acqua Alta is a veritable floating treasure trove. Here, books are stored in gondolas, bathtubs and even boats to protect them from flooding. This cheerful, charming jumble is the perfect embodiment of the Venetian spirit: picturesque, poetic and quirky.
Other wonders around the world include Melbourne's State Library Victoria, which impresses with its La Trobe reading room, topped by a glazed dome that bathes the space in light. In Maastricht, the Bookstore Dominicanen has taken up residence in a former Gothic church, where the shelves rise up under centuries-old vaults.
It's impossible not to mention Shakespeare and Company, the iconic English-language bookstore nestled opposite Notre-Dame in Paris. A landmark of the Beat Generation, it remains a must-see for literature lovers.
The same is true of the Lello bookstore in Porto, whose sculpted staircase, colourful glass roof and Art Nouveau ambience seem straight out of a fairytale.
A persistent rumour has it that J.K. Rowling, who lived in Porto in the 1990s, drew inspiration for the Harry Potter universe from the store, an idea the author refuted on X (formerly Twitter).
This worldwide ranking demonstrates that bookstores are more than just retail outlets. They are places with souls, cultural landmarks where people come for much more than books. They come to dream, to escape and, above all, to marvel at their surroundings. - AFP
Discover Preply's ranking of the top 10 most popular bookstores (and libraries) worldwide:
1 - Daunt Books - London, England
2 - El Ateneo Grand Splendid - Buenos Aires, Argentina
3 - State Library Victoria - Melbourne, Australia
4 - Bookstore Dominicanen - Maastricht, Netherlands
5 - The Last Bookstore - Los Angeles, US
6 - Starfield Library - Seoul, South Korea
7 - Shakespeare and Company - Paris, France
8 - Tsutaya Books - Tokyo, Japan
9 - Trinity College Library - Dublin, Ireland
10 - Libreria Acqua Alta - Venice, Italy
