Alagonian Library, Conservation library in Syracuse, Italy
The Alagonian Library is a conservation library in Syracuse that houses a substantial collection of books spanning different periods. It contains approximately 70,000 books, including 20 illuminated manuscripts, 70 incunabula, and thousands of volumes from between 1500 and 1830.
Bishop Giovanni Battista Alagona founded this library in 1781 on Via Minerva as a public institution for youth education, financing it with his personal resources. The founding reflected his commitment to spreading knowledge within the local community during that era.
The library holds correspondence between Syracuse scholars and European writers from the 18th and 19th centuries. These letters show how local thinkers connected with intellectual circles across Europe.
The library is located at Piazza Duomo and is easy to reach on foot when exploring central Syracuse. Since it is a conservation library, a calm visit is recommended to properly appreciate the rare works on display.
Bishop Alagona issued a decree to protect the library's materials, enforced by threatening excommunication against anyone who would remove items. This drastic measure shows how vital the collection was to the institution and how seriously preservation was taken.
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