Biblioteca Marucelliana, State public library and archive in Historic Centre of Florence, Italy.
The Biblioteca Marucelliana is a state public library and archive on Via Camillo Cavour, in the historic center of Florence. Its holdings span printed books, manuscripts, drawings, prints, and historical newspapers, making it one of the main conservation libraries in Tuscany.
Francesco Marucelli left his private collection to the city of Florence, and the library opened to the public in 1752. Its holdings grew considerably in 1776 when books and materials from suppressed Jesuit institutions were transferred to it.
The name Marucelliana comes directly from its founder, Francesco Marucelli, who left his collection to the city on the condition that it remain open to everyone, regardless of social standing. That spirit of open access still shapes how the place is used today, welcoming both scholars and curious visitors.
The library sits on Via Camillo Cavour, a short walk from the Cathedral, so it fits naturally into a visit to the city center. Since it also functions as a research and archive institution, it is worth checking access conditions before arriving, as some areas may require prior authorization.
Among the less obvious items in the collection are two globes made in 1699 by Venetian cosmographer Vincenzo Coronelli, one showing the sky and one the earth. Coronelli was famous across Europe for making large decorative globes for royal courts, and these two are among the few surviving examples held in an Italian library.
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