Discover The Amazing Biblioteca Ambrosiana On Vacation In Milan

Milan is famously a fashion capital of the world but it is also, as the largest city in Lombardy and a city with a long and complex history, a great cultural centre that is home to some amazing museums and galleries. If you an art-lover who has found a villa in Lombardy and you are planning a trip to Milan while in this part of Italy then be sure to set aside some time for at least one of these amazing cultural gems between your shopping, people-watching, visiting excellent bars and restaurants, and exploring the various attractions of the city. Of course, there are many different options to choose from and all have their own unique attractions and charms but one that is definitely worth considering is the fascinating Ambrosian Library or Biblioteca Ambrosiana.

A stunning architectural gem in its own right, this incredible institution is often sadly overlooked by visitors to the city. Located right in the centre of the city, in the Piazza Pio XI, the Biblioteca Ambrosiana is a historic library and also houses the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana art gallery. Founded in 1609 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo and named for the patron saint of the city, the collection of the institution was established when the cardinal sent agents to search all over Western Europe, Greece, Syria, and beyond to hunt down books and manuscripts. Later acquisitions and donations then further expanded the collection with around 30,000 manuscripts now housed in the library. Texts in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopian, Turkish, Persian and more are held in the library today and highlights of the collection include manuscripts by Petrarch, the Muratorian fragment (dating to ca 170 A.D., this is the earliest example of a Biblical canon), an original copy of De divina proportione by Luca Pacioli, treatises on medicine, and the oldest copy of the Kitab Sibawahaihi. Famous visitors to these collections have included the likes of Lord Byron and Mary Shelley and the stunning reading room alone is a serious highlight that is known for attracting bibliophiles from the world over who find themselves on vacation in Lombardy to experience its beauty for themselves.

The Pinacoteca, meanwhile, was the result of a collection of artworks begun shortly after the library was founded that was originally intended to inform students of an academy that was eventually opened in 1625. The works that they learned from can today be viewed by the public at large in the lovely gallery space that is also on the premises. Some of the artworks of the institution's collection - drawings, prints, etc – are sometimes on display in the library and other works – paintings, sculpted works, etc – are on more permanent display in the Pinacoteca. In total, the library is home to around 12,000 drawings dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries by European artists, including twelve manuscripts by Leonardo da Vinci that were acquired shortly after Borromeo's death, with the Codex Atlanticus among them. Meanwhile, highlights on display in the gallery include Leonardo da Vinci's "Portrait of a Musician", Caravaggio's "Basket of Fruit", Bramantino's “Adoration of the Christ Child”, and Raphael's cartoon of "The School of Athens". With such massive names on display in these lovely hallowed halls, it truly is astonishing that more tourists do not come to discover this incredible gem – don't be among their number and be sure to make time to see it for yourself!

So, if you are a serious art-lover or library fan on holidays in Lombardy then be sure to come and visit the astounding and jam-packed Biblioteca Ambrosiana and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana while exploring Milan.

Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana
Piazza Pio XI, 2 Milan
+39 02 806921