There are lots of beautiful libraries located around the world that have become tourist attractions for bibliophiles and architecture fans alike and it makes sense. These hallowed spaces are peaceful pockets, removed from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, and have stood the test of time as important sentinels of human knowledge. It also makes sense that the main public library in the city of Bologna in Emilia Romagna, a city that is home to one of the oldest universities in the world and which is famously a city of scholars, is a particularly beautiful and noteworthy example among the loveliest public libraries in the world; the Biblioteca Salaborsa, or Salaborsa Library.
The Biblioteca Salaborsa, as of 2001, has been located in the Palazzo d'Accursio, a palace that once housed many of the major administrative offices of the city of Bologna and was also formerly the site of the city's stock exchange, where people from all over came to buy and sell livestock, seeds, and produce in the 1950s. Today, the palace remains a key fixture and central figure in Bologna as an important cultural hub and is home to not only the city's Town Hall but also the Civic Art Collection (which boasts a collection of paintings spanning from the Middle Ages to the 19th century), the Museo Morandi (with a collection of works by Giorgio Morandi), and the Biblioteca Salaborsa.
While the building has much older roots and was built over older foundations, the appearance of the palace, as it stands today, can largely be traced back to plans made in the 15th century by architect Fioravante Fioravanti, though there were also subsequent alterations and restorations that took place throughout the centuries. The Biblioteca Salaborsa itself is located in a part of the building that was added in the 19th century and is a wonderful, airy, modernist, cast-iron and glass structure with a crystal floor, under which some ancient ruins are visible. Discovered during restorations of the building, the archaeological site located under the Biblioteca Salaborsa reveals remains of the ancient city of Bononia, which dates back to 189 BC, as well as Etruscan ruins that predate the Roman ones. Visible through this rather extraordinary crystal floor (which is a pretty unique and special addition to the already lovely, rich, and fascinating architectural gem of a public library that is the Biblioteca Salaborsa), the ancient ruins are actually accessible from the basement floor, where there are information panels to provide context and detail for those visitors that are interested in learning more about them.
If you ever happen to find yourself darting around, busy exploring all that the wonderful city of Bologna has to offer, and are in need of somewhere to go and shelter from the hot sun in the summer or to simply sit and rest in pretty surroundings for a little while, the Biblioteca Salaborsa is a great place to seek out and, if you were already thinking of heading to the museums, then the library is quite simply a must-see! Beloved of locals, a well-known and popular meeting point for people, an excellent spot to go to get some work done, study, or read, home to a nice little coffee shop where you can grab snacks and hot drinks, and a great central point from which to explore more of the city, the library is a vibrant beating heart at the centre of Bologna in Emilia Romagna. So, the next time you head to Italy and plan on taking in all that Bologna has to offer, be sure to pencil in a stop to the incredibly beautiful and fascinating Biblioteca Salaborsa.
While the building has much older roots and was built over older foundations, the appearance of the palace, as it stands today, can largely be traced back to plans made in the 15th century by architect Fioravante Fioravanti, though there were also subsequent alterations and restorations that took place throughout the centuries. The Biblioteca Salaborsa itself is located in a part of the building that was added in the 19th century and is a wonderful, airy, modernist, cast-iron and glass structure with a crystal floor, under which some ancient ruins are visible. Discovered during restorations of the building, the archaeological site located under the Biblioteca Salaborsa reveals remains of the ancient city of Bononia, which dates back to 189 BC, as well as Etruscan ruins that predate the Roman ones. Visible through this rather extraordinary crystal floor (which is a pretty unique and special addition to the already lovely, rich, and fascinating architectural gem of a public library that is the Biblioteca Salaborsa), the ancient ruins are actually accessible from the basement floor, where there are information panels to provide context and detail for those visitors that are interested in learning more about them.
If you ever happen to find yourself darting around, busy exploring all that the wonderful city of Bologna has to offer, and are in need of somewhere to go and shelter from the hot sun in the summer or to simply sit and rest in pretty surroundings for a little while, the Biblioteca Salaborsa is a great place to seek out and, if you were already thinking of heading to the museums, then the library is quite simply a must-see! Beloved of locals, a well-known and popular meeting point for people, an excellent spot to go to get some work done, study, or read, home to a nice little coffee shop where you can grab snacks and hot drinks, and a great central point from which to explore more of the city, the library is a vibrant beating heart at the centre of Bologna in Emilia Romagna. So, the next time you head to Italy and plan on taking in all that Bologna has to offer, be sure to pencil in a stop to the incredibly beautiful and fascinating Biblioteca Salaborsa.
Photo credit: GennaroBologna / CC BY-SA 4.0