The Royal Library stores over 200,000 volumes, ancient papers, engravings and illuminated manuscripts, the result of the enrichment of the collection established in 1831 by Charles Albert of Savoy-Carignano.
In 1839, with the purchase of Giovanni Volpato’s collection, a valuable nucleus of drawings by Italian and foreign great masters became part of the collections, including 13 autograph sheets by Leonardo da Vinci, to which the famous Codex on the Flight of Birds was later added.
The increase in funds determined the construction of the new site on the ground floor of the East Wing of the Royal Palace. It was inaugurated in 1942 and conceived by the court architect Pelagio Palagi, with the design of monumental furnishings arranged on two levels.
After World War II, with the transfer of the House of Savoy’s property to the State, the Royal Library became a public library.
ACCESS TO THE STUDY ROOM
The Reading Room of the Royal Library is reserved for consultation of library documents and is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm,
Thursday and Friday from 8.30 am to 3.15 pm and Saturday from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm.
Booking is strongly recommended and guarantees the availability of the place and the immediate availability of the requested material. To book, write at least 24 hours in advance to:
mr-to.bibliotecareale@cultura.gov.it
Readers who have not booked will be able to access while seats last. Registration remains mandatory, to be carried out online by filling in the User Registry Form.
ROYAL LIBRARY IN PHOTOS
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