- Address: Vatican City, Cortile del Belvedere
- Phone: +3960669879411
- Official website: www.vaticanlibrary.va
The Vatican's main attraction is the Vatican's Apostolic Library, the richest library that manages the Middle Ages and Renaissance manuscripts. Pope - Nicholas V founded the library in the XV century. Library collections are constantly being replenished, and today more than one and a half million books, about one hundred and fifty thousand manuscripts, eight thousand three hundred incunabula, over one hundred thousand engravings, three hundred thousand coins and medals. The Vatican Apostolic Library consists of a school for the training of library science, a laboratory in which copies of the collection are restored.
How did the library change and develop?
Collect the exhibits of the library began in the IV century. This event is associated with the name of Pope Damascus I. First the documents were kept in the archive, and only in the VI century the first librarian was appointed. In the Middle Ages the Vatican Apostolic Library was repeatedly plundered, so many of the documents were irretrievably lost.
The founder of the now existing Vatican library is considered to be Pope Nicholas V. His predecessors also collected and stored valuable works, but it was Pope Nicholas V who greatly increased the library's funds, largely due to his personal collection. The library exhibits became available to the general public in 1475, and numbered more than two and a half thousand copies. To get acquainted with the documents was allowed only on the spot under the close supervision of the librarian.
Under Pope Leo X, the Vatican Library acquired a number of manuscripts, since he considered replenishing and increasing the collection as his main mission. In 1527, the library was again devastated, damaged, and many documents were destroyed. Pope Sixtus V decided to move the library to a new location. Architect Domenico Fontana built a building in which the Vatican Apostolic Library was later placed. It was much larger than before and wooden cabinets began to be used for the storage of exhibits.
After the XVII century, a tradition appeared to accept the collection of individuals and royal persons as a gift. The Vatican Apostolic Library Foundation was also replenished due to manuscripts stolen during the war in other states. In this regard, it should be mentioned the Queen of Sweden Christina, who gave the library many interesting books collected by her and her father in different countries around the world.
At the beginning of the XVIII century, Clement XI advanced with an expedition to Syria and Egypt, to enrich and replenish the collections of the library. More than 150 securities were found that adorned the collection of the Vatican Library.
The invasion of Napoleon's troops was another step back in the development of the library, since many copies of the collection were abducted and taken out of the country. Later, most of the stolen was returned to the Vatican.
The year 1855 became significant for the Vatican Library, since the collection of the collection included the books of Count Chikonyar and the manuscripts of Cardinal May, which numbered about 1,500.
A new milestone in the development of the library was the election of Pope Leo XIII, the great reformer. It was he who opened the reading rooms and made available printed books. He founded a restoration laboratory, developed rules for the compilation of catalogs of manuscripts, which are still in force today. Pope Leo XIII significantly increased the number of exhibits of the Vatican Apostolic Library in the Vatican.
The tasks that the Vatican Library is called upon to realize:
- to keep the cultural values entrusted to it;
- replenish the collection with all kinds of exhibits;
- conduct scientific research
- update technical means;
- exchange experience with colleagues from different countries.
We go on a journey through the halls of the library
The Vatican Apostolic Library is huge and for convenience is divided into thematic halls. In 1611 a hall appeared, called the wedding hall of Aldobrandini. It contains the same fresco, which depicts the wedding of Alexander the Great and Roxanne. Also in the hall are kept other frescoes of antiquity, relating to IV BC. e. In the papyrus hall are stored "Ravensky papyri" Also in the hall are exhibited cubes of gold with an impression of scenes from the life of people of that time.
In 1690 Alexander's Hall was opened. Frescos decorating the walls of the room, talk about the life and death of Pope Pius. About the life and pontificate of Pope Paul V tell two of the same hall. The storehouse of the Palatine Library is the Urban VIII Gallery. Also near the windows of this room you can see astronomical instruments.
The hall, which preserves the artifacts of early Christians, was opened in 1756. The finds of the ancient Etruscans and Romans are located in the Museum of Secular Art of the Vatican Apostolic Library. The place, which contained the vessels and vessels, is called the Pius V. Chapel. The exhibits are quite interesting, many are made of precious metals. The gallery of Clement is decorated with frescoes by the artist Angelis, showing scenes from the life of Pius VII.
The hall storing manuscripts and books is called the Sistine salon. In the hall are the richest frescoes depicting the libraries of antiquity. Images are supplemented by signatures.
Rulers often admired and composed in their honor of thanksgiving. Pope Pius IX was awarded such an honor, one of the halls of the Apostolic Library of the Vatican was named in his honor. Previously, in this hall, there were kept the glorification in his honor, and now there are exhibited medieval fabrics.
In addition to the collection of books, manuscripts, scrolls and other things, the Vatican Apostolic Library is a depository of coins and medals.
Control
It is also interesting to manage the Vatican library. Today the head of the library is the cardinal-librarian. His main assistant is the prefect (more often engaged in technical, rarely scientific matters). There is a deputy prefect, and managers of collections and halls, as well as responsible for the treasury and secretary. In addition, under the Vatican Apostolic Library, a council has been organized, which is responsible for advising the cardinal-librarian and prefect.
How to visit?
The Vatican Apostolic Library is open from September to July. In August, it is impossible to get to the library, since this month is a vacation of all employees. The Apostolic Library is open for visits on weekdays from 8.45 to 17:15, Saturday and Sunday are days off.
Not everyone can go to the library. Without difficulty, only scientists and graduate students can enter, but students are not allowed to enter. Tourists are a separate category, therefore, having paid for the tour 16 euros, you will find yourself in one of the most amazing places on the planet. An important nuance when visiting the library is the appearance. Your clothes should not be catchy, defiant, open. Violators of the dress code can not enter the library room.
To get to the Vatican Apostolic Library, you need to choose a convenient mode of transportation:
- Metro: you need to get on the train at one of the stations in line A. The destination is the Musei Vaticani stop.
- Buses with numbers: 32, 49, 81, 492, 982, 990 will take you to the Apostolic Library of the Vatican.
- Tram number 19 is also moving in the right direction.
The Vatican strikes the imagination with the presence of so many monuments of architecture and culture in a relatively small area. It is a city with its own customs, traditions and holidays . If you have the opportunity to visit this marvelous place, do not miss the chance to visit one of the main attractions of the Vatican - the Apostolic Library.
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
