Monday, May 20, 2013

Venice week #5

The Legatoria Piazzesi in Venice's San Marco district is Italy's oldest paper shop still operating in it's original premises. Founded in 1851, it started as a small bookbinder and book repair business, and when Carlo Piazzesi took over in 1900, they began to also produce their own handprinted papers.

It can easily be found when walking from the Campo San Stefano in direction of the Campo San Moise (After you cross the Campo S. Maurizio and the bridges of two small canals, you'll see it on your right, three minutes from the Campo S. Stefano)



They carry their own range of handmade papers, but also those of other well known Italian paper manufacturers, such as Tassoti, of which I have been a fan for a long time.







The place is filled with treasures, and as it was not too busy when we visited, the charming and knowledgeable Signore Andrea Andreatta took the time to explain the history of italian paper printing, and of the shop, and shared some pictures of the previous owners. The photo in the second row shows the shop front as it was in the sixties.. absolutely nothing has changed in the last 50 years.



Marbelized papers from Florence



You can chose from a beautiful selection of pencil cases, stationary, paper trays, gift boxes, exquisitely bound books and albums...



... and they also have the prettiest, hand-made Venician greeting cards (2.25 EUR each). I bought the ones picturing the Doge's Palace and the Basilica Santa Maria Della Salute


 

Sestriere San Marco 2511/c (Campiello della Feltrina) - 30124 Venice, Tel: +39 041 522 12 02
www.legatoriapiazzesi.it

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25 comments:

  1. Oh, what a temptation that shop would be for me. Belated happy birthday wishes, dear MaiTai, and I am happy you had such a lovely trip to celebrate your birthday. Thank you for sharing your visit to Venice with us. It is such a beautiful place.

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    1. Thank you for the sweet good wishes, dear Pam! The shop has been a lovely experience, it is such a beautiful and unique place.

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  2. Loving your "Travelogue de Venise"! Your photos are super, I wish I was right there right now! Thanks for sharing, SAx

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    1. Many thanks, dear SA. I'd love to be there now too, especially with the Biennale starting in a few days time x

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  3. When I saw your pictures I remembered every little thing I saw in this legatoria it was an incredible moment for a "haute couture paper" lover like me, the pencil case on my desk could tell you! Thank you for sharing with us, I travelled back to Venice with you and it is such a nice and soothing feeling.
    xxxCatherine

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    1. Haute Couture Paper is so well put! Your pencil case must be stunning, what a beautiful souvenir to pick. Hope you'll enjoy the remaining episodes too, chère Catherine!

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  4. This was my favorite store when we visited Venice a few years ago! I am really enjoying your travelogue, especially since I am returning in September. I can't wait!

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    1. Oh how nice to know we enjoy the same things! Have a most wonderful and happy upcoming trip!!

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  5. What a fabulous shop! I am lusting after some of those glorious sheets. Thank you for sharing this wonderful treasure.

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    1. Awwwh, I can imagine you would! Some of then are so YOU! xx

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  6. Of course also one of my favorite address for all these unique paper that I wanted to buy hearing my husband behind me saying no no no it will not go very well into plane.... What good memories when we like so much beauties of each artistique way of life,
    Warmly.
    Monica

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    1. Small world and beautiful memories indeed, my dear Monica! Next time, bring a strong cardboard roll with you, and a suitcase long enough to fit it in.. Amitiés

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  7. Dearest MaiTai,
    What a marvelous world, going back in time and stepping into another era. How thrilling when a treasured craft endures and is passed down for all to appreciate today. Thank you for sharing this special gem, you truly made my day <3 Much love and biggest happy hugs xx

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    1. Again you have described it so beautifully, my dearest Scarf Enthusiast... a place which lets us step into another era is so precious, it allows us to imagine and dream. Have a wonderful week, my dear friend xox

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  8. Dearest MaiTai,

    I am already totally in love with the shop without having visited it. Such a precious place! For a moment I thought of another precious paper shop, in Paris, called Melodies Graphiques, also worth a visit.
    Thank you so much for sharing this very special adress. Special hug,
    Manuela

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    1. Hope you'll have fun browsing on your next visit! And yes, the Melodies Graphiques is a wonderful place too. The wall displaying their customer's calligrapy envelopes is simply stunning, each envelope is a work of art. Hope you'll enjoy this pic, although it's from the early days of blogging Marais Hugs xx

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    2. Thank you so much for the link, my dear MaiTai. So lovely to think that we have been in the same places! :) With the owner of Melodies Graphiques I learned how to wrap a present with silk paper in two different colours.
      You look so lovely standing there in your mousseline scarf and Summer dress. Mxx

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  9. Dear Mai Tai, I'm so late arriving at your birthday celebration, sending belated wishes! I'm loving this series, and it looks like you had a wonderful stay. Your photos so wonderfully capture the beauty and mystery of Venice, and bring back such happy memories of visiting! The honoring of craft and detail, and the tradition of artistry are just some of the things I love about Italy. All are so well represented in Venice. While travelling in Italy, I remember feeling just giddy regarding the care given everywhere, to design details from small items to large. Thank you for sharing your vacation with us! xx

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    1. The party is still in full swing, dear NiniNotes, how lovely to have you joining! So glad for every happy memory the pics brought back. Mille merci for describing Italy's magic so beautifully, I could not agree more <3

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  10. Love love love (did I mention that I love?) this store!!! It evokes the grandeur and grace of a former era, when we actually took pen in hand to convey our messages. Thank you for sharing these beautiful images!
    Barbara A

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    1. Oh, the joy of receiving a personal note, written by hand on beautiful paper! Writing them gives equal pleasure. Here's to fountain pens, stationary and stamps! x

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  11. Beautiful images! They make me want to go back.

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  12. Thank you for this post, and thank you for the visit!
    It was a pleasure also for me.
    Greetings from Venice
    Hearthily
    Andrea Andreatta

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, very happy you like the post! And thank you again for the wonderful hospitality. Looking forward to visiting your beautiful shop when in Venice next! All the best, MaiTai

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