Biblioteche Riunite Civica e A. Ursino Recupero, Public library in the Monastero benedettino di San Nicolò l'Arena, Catania, Italy.
The Biblioteche Riunite Civica and A. Ursino Recupero is a public library housed in a former Benedictine monastery in Catania with holdings focused on Sicilian literature and regional studies. The rooms contain handwritten documents, historical sources, and rare printed works from different periods.
The institution was created in 1931 by joining the municipal library of Catania with a private collection assembled by a scholar. It was placed within a Benedictine monastery, where the rooms maintain the building tradition of the cloister.
The library reflects Sicily's past through documents that show how people lived and wrote over many centuries. Visitors encounter old newspapers, religious texts, and handwritten pages that bring everyday life from earlier times to light.
Visiting works best with advance notice, especially if you want to see rare materials. The building is straightforward to find and staff can help you navigate through the various collections.
The collection preserves documents about the celebration of Saint Agatha, a central figure in Catania's local religious life. These special holdings show how deeply faith and everyday culture are woven together in the region.
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