Biblioteca e Complesso monumentale dei Girolamini, State public library in historic Naples, Italy
The Biblioteca dei Girolamini is a state public library housed in a Renaissance complex with over 159,000 volumes and manuscripts. The building includes a church, two courtyards with decorative tiles, and reading rooms arranged across multiple floors.
The library was founded in 1586 on the site of the former Palazzo Seripando and became the oldest library in Naples. It ranks as the second oldest public library in Italy, after one in Rimini.
The collection reflects centuries of religious and intellectual thought through manuscripts and printed works on theology and philosophy. Visitors can see how this place served both as a space for prayer and as a center for learning and scholarship.
The library is located in Naples' historic center on Piazzetta San Giuseppe dei Ruffi and welcomes researchers and visitors during regular hours. Certain sections may require advance notice or specific access arrangements depending on what you wish to study.
The collection holds around 6,500 musical manuscripts spanning from the Renaissance through the 19th century, making it a rare treasure for music researchers. The building underwent comprehensive restoration after losses from theft were discovered in 2012.
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