Biblioteca Salaborsa
Friday, April 11th, 2014
The Library Salaborsa. I mention this library in a previous post and today I returned to take some photos. It’s the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen and is used a great deal. There are two large floors with an indoor covered “courtyardâ€. I was amazed to see so many people there. The two times I’ve gone so far it has always been packed.
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- The unassuming entrance near Fontana Nettuno
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- Just inside the entrance – an information desk
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- View of the ceiling and the two floors above the ground floor
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- A special exhibit of children’s toy from the first half of the 19th century
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- Signs reading internet, auditorium, kids and small children (not really babies)
I’m not sure of the time line but there were structures here dating from roman times. The current structure was built in the 1880s as a business center. It has gone through other iterations as well including a basketball center in the 1950s. There are picture in the Italian Wikipedia page showing teams playing basketball – you can see them by clicking here.
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- The principle media room – there’s another smaller one as well
In additional to large collections of books, including a room of books just about Bologna, there is vast collection of videos and music CDs. The library (and it seems many libraries here) are also centers for community activity, offering all kinds of educational activities for people of all ages and interests.
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- View of the street level glass floor from the floor above
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- The room for raggazzi – kids. For some reason it was closed today
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- The auditorium
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- More excavations
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- Excavations
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- Yet another view of the excavations
One thing you immediately notice walking through the large open area is the glass floor. You can descend some stairs and view the archeological excavations that date from the first century B.C. Along the way you also see the beautiful room for children’s books, an auditorium and a large bank vault from it’s past as a commercial center. I definitely recommend a visit if you go to Bologna.
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- The table where I sit with another person for English conversation.
Here’s where I do one of my volunteer jobs having one-on-one conversations with people that would like to improve their English.
April 12th, 2014 at 9:57 am
Joe,
Thank you for the luscious array of photographs. What an absolutely amazing
place where there is room for the old and the new. It is not surprising that
lots of people come there.
April 13th, 2014 at 11:04 am
Thanks for the comment Margaret. They are always appreciated. There are so many great things to see and do in Bologna and it’s a city that for me is just the right size with wonderful medieval character, not to mention terrific food.
Joe
April 12th, 2014 at 10:07 pm
Fabulous, Joe! Can’t wait to visit it. We arrive May 15, leaving May 23. We’ll let you know when we get there but do you prefer email, text, or phone? If the last, send me your number! Abby & Helen
April 13th, 2014 at 11:03 am
I’m looking forward to showing you around. I’m sure you’ll appreciate the charms of Bologna.
Joe