Biblioteca Casanatense

The Casanatense Library was founded by the Dominicans of the Monastery of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome and opened to the general public, according to the will of Cardinal Girolamo Casanate. In order to contain the Library collection the Friars built a new architectural structure in the area of the monastery cloister. The Salone (Hall) was designed by architect A.M.Borioni. The Library was already opened on November 3rd, 1701, only one year after Cardinal Casanate's death. The first nucleum of the Library was the collection of the Cardinal, which contained up to 25.000 volumes. Info on web site. Please, check hours: they are different between Library to Salone monumentale.