Biblioteca Classense

Biblioteca Classense

The Biblioteca Classense is the public library of Ravenna, Italy. In 1803, with the Napoleonic suppression of monasteries and religious institutions, a library was created to harbor the confiscated books. They were housed in the library of the Camaldolese Monastery, which had been founded in the 17th century by the Abbott Pietro Canneti with books moved here from the abbey adjacent to Sant’Apollinare in Classe.

Biblioteca Classense, located in the heart of Ravenna, Italy, is one of the country’s most significant libraries. Housed within a 16th-century Camaldolese monastery, it boasts a rich collection of approximately 800,000 volumes, including manuscripts, incunabula, and rare prints. The library’s architectural beauty, featuring Baroque halls and historical artworks, makes it a cultural gem.

The library offers a variety of services, including book loans, research assistance, and cultural events. Its historical collections are invaluable for scholars and enthusiasts of early Christian and Byzantine art, as well as Dante Alighieri studies. The library also houses the Municipal Historical Archive, preserving documents dating back to the 10th century.