This post comes from my other blog, “Libraries and rare books in Le Marche.” The region’s public libraries are astonishingly rich in rare and valuable early printed books. Macerata’s library is housed in a beautiful setting and boasts over 300 incunabula, (books printed before 1500). So as a librarian I occasionally blog about them and I thought I’d share this post with you.
We were strolling round Macerata with no intention of visiting its library. I assumed it would be chiuso per restauro (closed for restoration), the three most important words for any bibliophile in Italy. However, we spotted it and I said to the Chelsea Fan, “Let’s go in!”.
Entrance to the Mozzi-Borgetti Library, Macerata. Thanks to Cronache Maceratesi.
Doorway to the library. Thanks to Uma Boa Porta.
Although he doesn’t speak Italian and is only generally interested in libraries and early printed books, he was up for it. We asked the staff at Reception if we could see round, they found another member of staff who was delighted that anyone was interested in his beloved library, and off we went.
As we had given no warning, he didn’t get out any books for us, but he showed us the fine rooms in which the historic collections are housed, and indeed the rooms…
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Hill towns of Le Marche, Italy 
hello, how long do you stay in italy?
in the spring, i stayed in corinaldo. beautiful. are you going to be around in sept/oct. we can discuss antiquarian books.
by the way, i found a coy of the civil statuti, first edition, 1543. for sarnano. as far as i can tell, the only complete copy known.
best,
david
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by the way, you have encouraged me to visit macherata. with notice.
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Glad to hear it! I’ll come back to you about meeting up.
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