A short history:
In 1537 the Pallavicino marquises founded the Monte di Pietà and in 1582 Pope Gregorio XIII gives his confirmation in compliance with the canon law.
In 1596 the Monte del Peculio took place beside it to relieve the poor during the famine. The two institutions are protected by the Farnese and the Bourbon families.
The present Palace was built in 1681-1682 by the ducal architect Domenico Valmagini on commission of Ranuccio the 2nd.
In 1768 the Duke Ferdinando Bourbon expels the Jesuits form his State and seizes their properties. The Society of Jesus, that exercised a monopoly in the higher education, had in each college a rich library. The volumes of the Busseto and San Donnino colleges were concentrated in the Monte di Pietà in Busseto that built new elegant large rooms and from then is in charge of their management.
The access to the library rooms is in Via della Biblioteca, a side street of the main street, through an elegant settecento staircase.
In the 1st room, with the austere Jesuit bookshelves, there is the most part of the ancient collection: 20 incunabula, 480 “cinquecentine” (books printed in the 16th century), several Bodoni’s editions, many medical and natural science works and the famous Encyclopedia by Diderot and d’Alambert.
In every room the original furnishings are preserved quite intact so you can admire pieces of period furniture, paintings, fireplaces, wrought irons and safe.
To be noted the room with the seicento silverware of the Jesuit altars, the monumental cupboard containing the complete Monte records, the Gioacchino Levi’s painting and the frescoes by Angelo Massarotti that once decorated the arcade.
Update 2022:
- currently access to the library is from the main door in Roma street #38
- the library of books for the public has been moved to the ground floor
- guided tours are scheduled
- closed on Sunday
For more info:
fondazionecrp:biblioteca/
facebook: Biblioteca di Busseto
Thanks to Professor Corrado Mingardi for his kindness and helpfulness
|
