Libraries are places steeped in culture and charm, not only for the value of some of them rare editions, or for the friezes that adorn the walls. There is more. Anyone who loves spending time in the library knows that it is not enough that there is one or the other useful text or that unobtainable manual for the last university exam. The important thing is that we can discover, through reading, themselves. Well, in Italy there are 5 that make up one gioia both for the eyes and for the heart. Let's see them together!
The most beautiful libraries in Italy, the top five
It is not at all easy to designate, among all the splendid architectural works present in our territory, those that best interpret our identity heritage. However, we can give prestige to those that occupy the first five places in the ranking, not neglecting the following ones. The gold medal was awarded to the famous one Vatican Apostolic Library: this splendid building has confiscated over 180.000 manuscript and archival volumes over the centuries. It also preserves one of the collections of ancient texts and rare books that is the envy of the rest of the world. Unsurprisingly, it deserved the top spot, when you consider the splendor that greets you the instant you step foot. The Sistine Hall it houses a gorgeous ceiling, and expertly decorated columns. In second place we find the Marciana Library of Venice, with its rich collections of Latin and Greek, as well as oriental manuscripts.
La Laurentian Library instead occupies the third place, thanks to the quality of his manuscripts, but also to the magnificence of his architectural prowess, even designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti in the first decades of the 500th century. Penultimate place goes to University Library of Bologna, which preserves thousands and thousands of printed volumes, incunabula, sixteenth century, manuscripts and files. Last but not least, The Moreniana Library of Florence. This was built in 1870 and holds an infinite amount of material relating to Tuscany. In 1942 the Library was opened to the public in the premises of Palazzo Medici Riccardi together with the Riccardi Library.
Latest, but never last: the other libraries of Italy
Of course, there are libraries that are considered better than others, but in Italy, the home of beauty, every corner hides unexpected treasures. We would also like to mention other libraries which are worthy of note. First of all, the Casanatense Library. This it was founded by the Dominican friars of the Convent of S. Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, and over time it was enriched with texts of Roman law and economics. At the moment its collection includes about 400.000 volumes, 6.000 manuscripts and 2.200 incunabula. We also have the Teresian Library of Mantua, which was established by order of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. It was initially the seat of a college of the Society of Jesus, and then was opened to the public on March 30, 1780. Not to be missed is the State library of Lucca, which contains almost 465.000 printed works including volumes and brochures. It consists of highly prized collections, such as the Baroni Fund and the Fiorentini Fund, which contain a lot of genealogical and heraldic information. The list could still be long, as there are so many important libraries to consider. Go around Italy, and find out for yourself what your top Five is!
