Casanatense Library
The Library's collection contains approximately 400.000 volumes. About 60.000 of these continue to be located in the so-called Salone Monumentale; the rest of the collection is distributed in various storage areas throughout the Institute.
Our most important collections:
Manuscripts: about 6.000 volumes of great value such as exultet, liturgical codes, medical-scientific texts, Oriental and Hebraic codes, famous autographs such as that of Niccolò Paganini.Incunabula: about 2.200 volumes among which are unique examples, first editions, and plaques.Drawings and Engravings: about 30.000 engravings, increased by Abbot Antonio Ricci's donation and by the endowment of the Chamber of Calligraphy enjoyed by the Casanatense Library until the first half of the 1800s.Musical works: 1.700 manuscripts and about 2.000 published works.Theatre: more than 7.000 copies of dramatic works and musical librettos.Edicts and Bans: more than 70.000 from 1500 to 1870, especially from the Pontifical State.Periodicals: more than 2.000 titles (220 current subscriptions) among which are Roman and Pontifical State journals.Heraldry: about 1.200 works.Sanctification actions.Decisions of the Sacred Rota and other ecclesiastical tribunals.
The Library's patrimony is currently being increased by the acquisition of antiquarian materials as well as new publications, books from endowments, which enrich the Casanatense collections, theological texts, religious science (science or philosophy of religion) and medieval studies.
info: Rita Fioravanti
