Public Library of Valencia, Public library in Ciutat Vella, Valencia, Spain.
The Public Library of Valencia is housed in the former Hospital of Poor Innocents, a building with a Greek cross layout where four wings serve different functions. Each section contains reading areas, book collections, and digital workspaces that invite visitors to research and learn.
Founded in 1838 as Valencia Popular Library, the institution began at Plaza de la Virgen before relocating to its present building in 1979. The former hospital had a separate role in medical history before being converted into a cultural space.
The library organizes its collections by subject matter across different wings: the right section houses works on art and history, while the left wing focuses on youth materials and educational resources. This arrangement shows how the building itself opens its spaces to serve different interests and ages.
The entrance is located near Guillem de Castro garden at Hospital Street 13, making different collections easily accessible. Visitors can take their time wandering through the open spaces, and the place offers plenty of room for exploring and staying awhile.
The building was once Europe's first psychiatric hospital, established in 1409 by Valencia's merchant class following a sermon by Friar Juan Gilabert Jofre. This medical milestone was later transformed into a library, showing how the city repurposed one of its most important places.
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