Established in 1629 by the Venetian Republic as a “convenience,” “decorum,” and “major ornament” of the University of Padua, it is the oldest university library in Italy. In 1631, it was moved from its original location, the Jesuit convent near Pontecorvo, to the prestigious Sala dei Giganti in the prefectural palace. The book collection growth was ensured by the mandatory deposit of a copy of all printed materials produced in the territory of the Venetian Republic and by a fee imposed on graduates and newly appointed professors. Significant contributions were made during the 17th and 18th centuries through the acquisition of private libraries from professors, including those of jurist Bartolomeo Selvatico (1631), mathematician Bartolomeo Sovero (1632), doctors Pompeo Caimo (1636) and Giacomo Zabarella (1646), jurist Gianbattista Rainis (1725), and botanist Felice Viali (1727). In the late 18th century, the library of the great anatomist Giambattista Morgagni, naturalist Antonio Vallisneri, and the printed books of the Padua monastery of the Lateran Canons of St. John of Verdara—which was suppressed in 1783—were integrated. Following the suppression of religious corporations during the Napoleonic era, a large quantity of manuscripts, incunabula, and printed books from about 40 monastery libraries were absorbed. In 1867, after national unification, a new significant increase added about 13,000 works. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the library of the Natio Germanica—the most important foreign student corporation in Padua—was acquired. Among bequests, donations, and funds received between the 19th and 20th centuries, noteworthy are the Morpurgo collection (1,300 works on the history and literature of Semitic peoples) and the Ardigò collection (manuscripts of positivist philosopher Roberto Ardigò and about 2,200 volumes owned by him and his disciple Giovanni Marchesini, acquired in 1984). In 1912, the Library left the Sala dei Giganti, which had become entirely insufficient, to occupy its current premises, a government building that was the first in Italy constructed with modern criteria specifically for library use.
Information about the University Library of Padua
Via S. Biagio, 7
35121 Padua (Padua)
0498240211
bu-pd@beniculturali.it
https://www.bibliotecauniversitariapadova.beniculturali.it/
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM Saturday 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Source: MIBACT
