Biblioteca Salaborsa

"Opened in 2001 next to Piazza Maggiore, Bologna’s heart, the Library is a rich and fascinating cultural space inside Palazzo d'Accursio, the former and historic seat of the city’s government. Beneath the transparent crystal floor of the covered square, it is possible to admire the ancient excavations and the sedimentation of many civilizations in a scenario of harmony and light. In this way, centuries of history come alive, from the first rudimentary settlements of the Villanovan civilization of the 7th century B.C., over the Etruscan Felsina to the Roman Bononia founded in 189 B.C. Salaborsa is a multimedia library with a peculiar focus both on general information and on contemporary culture thanks to a wide range of accessible documents: books, newspapers, magazines, maps, video, CDs, CD-ROMs and DVDs. Its cutting-edge infrastructure is a guarantee of free and thorough access to the news and the Internet."

"It is free to enter. The Biblioteca Salaborsa is one of Bologna's most iconic libraries, located in the heart of the city at Piazza del Nettuno, near Piazza Maggiore. Housed within the historic Palazzo d'Accursio, this public library is renowned not only for its vast collection of books and multimedia resources but also for its stunning architectural features. One of the highlights of the Biblioteca Salaborsa is its transparent glass floor, which allows visitors to view the ancient ruins of the Roman city of Bononia beneath. The building itself is a blend of old and new, with modern renovations integrated into its historical structure, making it a cultural and architectural treasure. The library offers a variety of spaces for reading, studying, and hosting cultural events. It also serves as a community hub with regular exhibitions, workshops, and public lectures."

"Would you want to go to a public boring library? Of course not. But what about a public library built on top of ancient Roman ruins? Biblioteca Salaborsa is Bologna's main public library built in the late 1800s. This library sits atop historical layers of where an ancient civilization of Rome used to be. Both the library and Roman ruins are free to visit."