Civic Library Angelo Mai, Municipal library in Città Alta, Bergamo, Italy
Civic Library Angelo Mai is a public library and historical archive housed in an old palazzo on Piazza Vecchia in Bergamo's upper town. The building holds manuscripts, printed books, maps, and documents that are open to researchers and general visitors.
The library was founded in 1768 by Giuseppe Alessandro Furietti as a place to preserve knowledge in the Bergamo region. The collection grew steadily over the following centuries through donations and acquisitions, becoming one of the most complete in northern Italy.
The library takes its name from Angelo Mai, a 19th-century scholar known for deciphering forgotten ancient texts. Inside the reading rooms, students and researchers sit alongside rare volumes that are not available anywhere else in the region.
The library sits on Piazza Vecchia in the upper town and can be reached on foot after taking the funicular from the lower city. Visitors who want to consult specific documents should check opening hours in advance, as access to some rooms may be limited on certain days.
Among the holdings is a 14th-century illustrated copy of the Divine Comedy, one of the oldest surviving copies in Italy. Most visitors are surprised to find such a rare item in a city library rather than a national museum.
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