Biblioteca nazionale Braidense, National conservation library in Brera district, Milan, Italy
The Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense is a state-run conservation library housed within the Brera Palace and contains over 1.5 million volumes covering literature and scientific fields. Its collections are organized across four reading rooms where visitors can consult materials on-site.
The library was founded in 1770 by Maria Theresa of Austria after she acquired Count Carlo Pertusati's private collection of printed materials. This acquisition became the foundation for creating a public institution dedicated to preserving printed works.
The library holds the Fondo Manzoniano collection with manuscripts and personal books from writer Alessandro Manzoni, offering a window into the intellectual world of one of Italy's major authors through his own annotations and selections.
Visitors older than 16 can access the library from Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 6:15 PM by presenting a valid photo ID and completing a registration form. It is helpful to verify current opening times and any access requirements before your visit, as conditions may vary seasonally.
Inside the library sits the Emilio Sommariva Archive, which documents the evolution of photography from 1904 to 1973 through studio work records and technical notes. This collection offers rare views into how photographic techniques and artistic approaches changed over those decades.
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