My Bookish Bucket List
The Library of Emperor Nicholas II
This library in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, remains one of the most beautiful interiors to have survived to the present day. In addition, the library is the only interior of the Emperor’s private apartments in the Winter Palace to have retained its historical appearance without undergoing any changes.
This library was created in 1894-95 by the Russian architect Alexander Fedorovich Krasovsky for the last Emperor of Russia. Krasovsky embodied the restrained spirit of old English castles: an abundance of wood trim, a ceiling with caissons and openwork chandeliers, bookcases placed along the walls as well as a massive fireplace. For it’s decoration, the architect made extensive use of the English Gothic style.
This interior with its decorative panels of tooled and gilded leather, monumental fireplace and tall windows with tracery carry visitors back to the Middle Ages, thus creating an incredible historical ambiance. It also features a coffered walnut ceiling embellished by quatrefoils. On the desk is a porcelain sculpture portrait of Nicholas II, an identical copy of the original the biscuit porcelain bust of the Emperor completed in 1896 by the Russian sculptor Léopold Bernstamm.
The library was located in a separate wing of the private apartments of Nicholas II. To accommodate the vast library, an upper balustrade and staircase were added. The walls above the bookcases were decorated with panels of embossed gilded leather.
Did you know that there is a library in Portugal where bats are used to protect the books? Bats eat insects that might damage old books. 📚🦇
At the heart of the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest educational institutions in Europe, is the Joanina Library, a veritable treasure trove of knowledge and baroque architecture. This unique library is not only an impressive place with its sumptuous design, but also with an unusual method of protecting the books: a colony of bats has been living inside the library for over two centuries!
At night, the bats emerge from the massive carved wooden shelves and begin to fly among the old books, feeding on insects that might damage the fragile pages of the historic volumes. These little book guardians play an essential role in preserving valuable collections by naturally eliminating pests without the use of chemicals that could harm sensitive materials.
To protect the library's wooden furniture and surfaces from bat droppings, staff cover the reading tables with special leather at the end of each day. In the morning, the library is carefully cleaned and life goes on in this sanctuary of learning.
The Joanina Library houses approximately 60,000 volumes, including rare manuscripts, books from the 17th-18th centuries and works of inestimable value. Thanks to bats, these literary treasures are preserved in excellent condition, and this unusual collaboration between man and nature continues to fascinate visitors from around the world.
So... if you ever get to Coimbra, don't miss the chance to see this unique library with your own eyes, where history, architecture and nature work together!
The Gently Mad Book Shop & Bookbinder
Just a short stroll from Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens you will find The Gently Mad, a friendly and welcoming bookshop & bookbinders. The shop was opened in 2012 by Rab Mullin and son, Baz.
This bookshop located in Squamish, BC, was founded on the principles of diversity, acceptance, and multiculturalism.
Located in Seoul, South Korea, Arc N Book is a unique cultural space shared by a bookstore and a lifestyle shop. As a cultural space promoting reading culture, Arc N Book is a curated bookstore separated into 4 themed sections: Daily, Weekend, Style, and Inspiration.
Tom Stobart opened the Paradox Book Store more than 40 years ago when he built the legacy that is the Paradox. As the oldest bookstore in the state of West Virginia, this store holds a special place in history and you are aware of it the moment you walk through the door. Stepping into this store is like stepping back in time. From the signs with handwritten calligraphy that label the store's sections to the vintage cash register, shopping here is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Leakey's Bookshop, Inverness, Scotland
Complete with an open log fireplace, Leakey’s is the largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland. Over 100,000 books have been collected in this former Gaelic church, that was first opened to the public in 1979. Found in Inverness’s Old Town, it’s something of a pilgrimage site for bookworms from all over the world.
A 100 year old Dutch barge is home a unique bookshop, also known as The London Bookbarge.
The Lakovatios Library and Museum house in Kefalonia, Greece houses a large collection of antiquarian books, some dating back to the 16th-17th centuries.
The Open Door Bookshop in Rome.
El Ateneo - Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires
El Ateneo has several brick-and-mortar locations throughout Buenos Aires, but it's the one in Grand Splendid that has people the world over singing its praises.
It first opened as a performing arts theater in 1919, the Grand Splendid, designed by architects Peró and Torres Armengol, and still retains some of its original, 20th-century details. Think velvety red curtains, theater boxes with ornamented trimmings, and a fresco by Italian-Argentine artist Nazzareno Orlandi on El Ateneo's central dome.
Definitely one for the bucket list!
The Starfield Library in Seoul, South Korea
This library spans over 3 floors (from the 4th to 7th floor), with a height of 22 meters in total. The tall walls of book shelves filled with books serve as a pleasing sight and great background for many Insta-worthy shots.
