Library Marciana
The Marciana Library, also known as the Sansovino Library, was created thanks to the sponsorship of Cardinal Bessarion. In 1468 he donated his collection of about 750 codes, to which he later added 250 manuscripts and printed works. Designed by the architect Jacopo Sansovino, this building is one of the museums not to be missed in Venice.
Valuable gift
The Marciana Library was built and decorated to house the Greek and Latin manuscripts donated to the Republic of Venice in 1468 by Cardinal Bessarion. Venice accepted the gift and began to look at a drawing of a “public library” in Venice made by Francesco Petrarca a century earlier. He was able to harmoniously combine the most noble classical style of the Renaissance with the picturesque Venetian atmosphere.
One for all
After the Marciana Library moved to a new building, it began to be replenished through donations and inheritances. This was mainly due to translations from the libraries of small monasteries, and also due to the printing press's obligation to deliver every published copy of a book in accordance with the 1603 Venetian law. When the Venetian Republic fell, the building was further enriched with scriptures as a result of the abolition of religious bodies during the Napoleonic period, when religious libraries were transferred to the public Marciana Library.
Modern value
Currently, the Marciana Library is administered by the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture and contains one million volumes, 13,000 manuscripts and more than 2,800 incunables. The library building is a real work of art, starting with the decoration of the halls, sculptures and coffered ceilings. This library is rich in Greek culture, Venetian history and Venetian publications, and has been strengthened by large donations in this century. Currently, the library serves scholars from all over the world who play an important role in the cultural life of Venice.
Uniqueness
The monumental rooms of the Marciana Library offer the opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of the old Library of St. Mark's. This majestic library is of extraordinary proportions, with a vestibule later converted into a public sanctuary, a main hall used for the library, with rich decorations designed to reflect a historical and artistic trajectory of great interest and value. In addition, the museum currently hosts exhibitions and events.
