History

Established in 1629 by the Venetian Republic, the University Library of Padua was created to enrich and support the University of Padua, one of Europe’s most prestigious centres of learning. From the outset, it was conceived as a forward-looking institution. Rather than serving solely as a place of preservation, it was designed as a key driver in academic life. Its first librarian, the humanist Felice Osio, played a central role in promoting the Library and shaping its strategic position within the University.
After an initial period in the Jesuit convent, the Library was transferred in 1631 to the Sala dei Giganti, where its collections expanded rapidly. This growth was supported by an innovative system for its time: every printer operating within the territory was required to deposit a copy of each publication not only with the Marciana Library, but also with the Public Library of Padua, as the institution was then known.
Over the centuries, significant donations and the acquisition of private libraries further enriched the collections.

The 18th century marked a period of substantial growth, characterised by organisational reforms and a sharp increase in holdings. During the 19th century, the Library expanded further through the acquisition of collections from suppressed monasteries and important bequests. The Library moved to its current building in 1912, purpose-built according to modern library principles.
Today, its collections represent an exceptional cultural heritage, encompassing manuscripts, incunabula, rare books, and scientific and humanistic works spanning centuries of intellectual history. Tradition and innovation continue to coexist here, sustaining the Library’s original role as a dynamic space for study and knowledge.
Among its earliest treasures are approximately 2,700 medieval manuscripts dating from the 11th to the 20th century. Particularly noteworthy is Saint Augustine's De civitate Dei, enriched by an autograph distich by Petrarch, a unique testament to the relationship between humanism and the Christian tradition.
Also of great significance is Marin Sanudo's Itinerario, accompanied by drawings of 15th-century cities and castles, alongside musical fragments from the Abbey of Santa Giustina, which document the vibrant artistic culture of late medieval Padua.
The Library's most valuable collections also include incunabula, 16th-century editions (cinquecentine), and rare works such as Shakespeare's First Folio (1623), as well as specialised Hebrew, Armenian and scientific archival holdings.