University Library of Pavia

The University Library of Pavia is one of the most ancient public libraries in Italy, it belongs to the Country and depends on the Directorate General for Libraries and Cultural Institutes of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.

As any other public state library, it keeps and recollects the Italian editorial production, both on a local and on a national level. It preserves and improves its own historical collection, acquires foreign books depending on the needs of its own users and on the specificity of its collection, documents its own belongings, provides bibliographical information and ensures the circulation of documents.

Its name and its location can be mistaken: actually the Library does not legally depend on the University of Pavia; however, since the beginning, the two institutions have always cooperated with one another

The grand Teresian salon, original environment of the Library from June 1779 which takes its name from Maria Theresa of Austria, occupies the entire top floor of the western courtyard called Alessandro Volta, qualifying part of the overall design of the architect Giuseppe Piermarini. The massive wooden shelves, crowned with carved cornices with tables showing the classes of subjects of the books collected there, are original from the period; throughout its length the salon is crossed by an agile railing rounded balcony.

The library is situated in the center of the town, Strada Nuova 65, in the main building of the University.

After crossing the entrance gate in Strada Nuova 65, take the staircase on your left. The library is situated on the first floor above the Statue’s court.

To reach the library by train, you can take the bus n. 3 from the Station, get down to the Vittoria square bus stop, then take the first street on your left that is Strada Nuova.

If you come by car, it is possible to leave your car in one of the many parking lots of the town (keep in mind that is not possible to drive in the center of Pavia), take one of the buses - either number 1, 3 or 6 - that lead to Strada Nuova.