Biblioteca Salaborsa (Salaborsa Library), Bologna (must see)

Situated beside Neptune Square and just north of Main Square, Salaborsa Library is one of Bologna’s most interesting examples of historic architecture adapted for modern public use. Opened as a library in 2001, it occupies part of the vast Accursio Palace complex, Bologna’s Municipal Palace. The building was transformed into a multimedia library and cultural center while preserving its spacious Art Nouveau interior, particularly the large Covered Square at its heart.

The courtyard incorporated into the present building has served many purposes over the centuries. In 1568, the Bolognese naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi established a botanical garden here for the study of medicinal plants. It was one of Europe’s earliest university botanic gardens, although Bologna’s present botanical garden is now located in the university quarter. Afterward, the space was used as a military training ground and later accommodated bank offices, a puppet theatre, a basketball court, and eventually the city’s Stock Exchange before becoming the library seen today.

Enter from Neptune Square and walk into the Covered Square, where the soaring iron-and-glass structure creates an unexpectedly grand public interior. Look down through the large glass panels set into the floor to see archaeological remains beneath your feet. These include traces of Roman Bononia and later medieval settlements, with fragments of the ancient forum, paved surfaces, foundations, and other structures revealing how Bologna developed layer by layer over more than two millennia. Visitors can obtain a closer view by descending to the lower basement level, where the excavations can be explored for a small donation.

Beyond its archaeological and architectural interest, Salaborsa remains an active public library with books, newspapers, multimedia collections, study areas, exhibitions, lectures, and cultural events.