For 150 years Florence, together with Rome, has possessed a National Library.
This cultural institution was born with the Kingdom of Italy by the fusion of two existing libraries, the Magliabechiana and the Palatina. Magliabechi was  librarian to Cosimo lll of the Medici family, while the Palatina was founded by Ferdinando lll of Lorena.

1861-2011:  United Italy and its library is an exhibition of the Nation itself and its cultural values. It also shows what changes have been made within the organization of the library with the introduction of new digital technology.

The exhibition which is held  within the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale (Central National Library), is not only restricted to literature and conservation, but in its monumental rooms there is  the beginning of a new institutional activity  with a permanent exhibition. All types of books are exhibited – antique and artistic ones, enormous and minute ones. There are pictures and sculptured busts, index-cards used for cataloguing and historical objects, such as the chests which protected the books in the event of an attack during the war. There are also objects stained by mud during the terrible flood of November 1966. Situated on the banks of the Arno, the Library building suffered heavy damage and numerous books and manuscripts were ruined, many of which are still waiting to be restored.

This is an exhibition based on the history of a small part of Italy and Florence, as well as the people who helped to make it.

The exhibition is open from 22nd December to 28th February 2012
Monday to Friday 10,00-13,00/ 15,00-18,00
Saturday 10,00-13,00      
Sunday and festivities: closed.
Free admission
Access to the exhibition is from Via Magliabechi, 2.