Biblioteca Angelica, Public library in Piazza di Sant'Agostino, Rome, Italy
Biblioteca Angelica is a public library located on Piazza di Sant'Agostino in Rome, housing over 200,000 volumes in its historic building. The collection includes approximately 100,000 editions from the 15th to 19th centuries, along with numerous manuscripts and rare materials.
Bishop Angelo Rocca founded the library in 1604 and donated 20,000 volumes to the Augustinian friars housed in the adjacent convent. A major expansion occurred in 1762 when the entire collection of Cardinal Domenico Passionei was acquired, significantly enlarging the holdings.
The library holds important texts related to the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, reflecting how religious movements shaped intellectual life in Europe. Walking through the rooms, you can sense the weight of these debates preserved in the collection.
Visitors need to register to access materials on site and should check opening hours before planning a visit. Guided tours are regularly available and offer the best way to understand the collection and see restricted areas.
The collection includes books that were once deemed heretical and banned or strictly controlled during religious disputes. These works offer insight into the intellectual battles that shaped European thought and are now open to study.
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