The simplest of libraries are wondrous places to step into, beckoning you to spend endless time. Books sanctify rooms, lending them elegance and wisdom. You can imagine then how breathtakingly gorgeous then are the globe's top libraries.
An incredible space and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this book lover's paradise stands out for its stunning ceiling frescoes. Also called the Escurialense or Laurentina, it is a remarkable Spanish Renaissance library established by King Philip II. It was once a monastery.
Dublin's landmark and a masterpiece of a library, the Book of Kells is housed here. The largest library in Ireland it is also a legal deposit library, receiving a copy of every publication in Ireland at no cost, making it a key cultural resource.
An extensive library, with a focus on Indo-Islamic culture, was built up by the Nawabs of Rampur. It included impressive manuscripts, 30,000 texts, calligraphy wonders, miniatures, works in Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, Pashto, Turkish, Tamil. In July 1975, the library was taken over by the central government and is attached to the Department of Culture.
Completed in 1744, this library at Ulm is renowned for it Rococo architecture and sumptuous interiors. Its fabulous ceiling paintings were created by Franz Martin Kühn.
At Mafra is a library, dating from 1755, that owns approximately 36,000 leather-bound volumes from the 14th to the 19th centuries. To safeguard these old books from pests that would otherwise damage them, bats patrol the library at night, offering a natural defense.
A remarkable medieval library, with a rich history, lives on in St Gall. In 1983, both the library and the Abbey of St Gall were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Part of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, the library, with a diverse collection of books, mainly from the 19th century, was established through the funding of George Peabody.
Named in honour of José Vasconcelos, philosopher and former president of the National Library of Mexico, this vast collection referred to as Megabiblioteca, is located in the Buenavista neighbourhood of Mexico City.
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