Biblioteca Salaborsa

Ioana Turcanu

a year ago

The archaeological excavations under the covered square of Salaborsa I'm glad I got to visit them. if you have a way to the Salaborsa library, don't miss them, and if you don't have a way, do it. worth a visit the entrance is through the stairs on the left as you pass the guard at the entrance. access is free. donations are received, and it is worth considering that it is well maintained and beautifully presented. the staff is friendly and guides you. not speaking Italian I received a leaflet in English. I appreciate it.

Sandip Gohil

a year ago

A very smart and studious town needs a library to match. Turns out they did some renovations and found old Roman foundations below it. The medieval builders would just build over anything after destroying it. You can visit for free, the foundations were not visible when I was there this week as there was some presentation going on, as with most things Italian and in a square there's always something going on. Regardless, nice library, lots of books, nothing in English so I couldn't pretend I was just there to look inside the building.

Ivy C.

10 months ago

We have not been inside the library yet but rather hanging out outside since the weather was so nice when we were there. Here in the picture you can see how it looks from the outside. People, including us, really like to sit on the stairs there and relax or chat a little. The one star i would save for the next time when we can really see it.

Asiyah Noemi Koso

2 years ago

Arriving at the beautiful historic Piazza Nettuno immediately catches our eye the beautiful medieval Palazzo d'Accursio building ( Palazzo Comunale ). Biblioteca Salaborsa (Salabrosa Library) is located in one part of the Palace. The Salaborsa Library is the central public library opened in 2001 and provides a rich and fascinating cultural space inside the Palazzo d'Accursio, the ancient and historical seat of the city government. Its history is very interesting. In the thirteenth century, some Ghibella houses of late antiquity were built on this site above the Roman ruins. Among the builders are Francesco Accursio, a well-known lawyer at the Bologna School. The building then becomes a town hall. During Visconti's reign (1350 - 1360), the building was fortified because it had a house headquarters of troops that guarded the town hall, and converted Visconti into a true fortress. In 1568 Ulisse Aldrovandi transformed the inner garden into a botanical garden. Then began the cultivation of medicinal plants and exotic plants imported from all continents. Here Aldrovandi conducted the basic research that contributed to the creation of modern botany. In the meantime, a committee headed by Bologna entrepreneurs was set up, aimed at promoting the transformation of the indoor garden and cisterns into a space intended for the trade and market activities of the Bologna Stock Exchange, which had opened by then. Thus, between 1883 and 1886 on the site of the old garden built new Sala Borsa. Archaeological excavations carried out recently to restore Salaborsa revealed traces of public and religious buildings. They are visible to the public through a walkway and testify to the fact that the place has always been the center of public life in the city. There is an impressive wall perimeter of the Renaissance Terribilia tank, paved roads and foundations of the Roman basilica, the wall of the Medieval tower house and the star-shaped tub once at the center of the garden. In 1920, Salaborsa became a public restaurant, followed by the Bank with a Treasury (Cassa di Risparmio). After World War II and until the 1960s, the covered square served as a sports hall. This is where the Virtus Basketball Club originated. Today it is a beautiful and significant library.

Cristian Mihon

7 months ago

The largest public library in Bologna, build on top of Roman ruins. Thanks to its central location, this is the perfect spot if you're looking to rent a book. Alternatively, you can simply sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book on site. The archeological site is visible from the ground floor (through glass floors) but can also be visited at no cost. It's not a large site but there is plenty of history to read about on the hallway to and inside the site itself.