Breathtaking libraries worth travelling for

 Libraries have always been a special place for me. The opportunity to read, study and learn in a peaceful environment, and for free, is something I believe everyone should have access to the world over. Since I am planning for  travel,  an ideal escape from homesickness and travel worries. Settling into a seat, grabbing a book, and losing myself in the pages has become my go-to travel reset.

There are some truly incredible libraries in the world. From ancient parchment collections to modern-architectural wonders, you can get as lost in the grandeur of many libraries as much as you can in the stories they contain.

1. John Rylands Library, Manchester

                                                 

Ever since I saw a photo of John Rylands Library of Manchester I know I have to visit once in life to tour its impressive vaulted ceilings and hidden collections.

The building itself is actually late-Victorian, although against the backdrop of Manchester’s modern city you could easily assume it dates back later than 1900. Still open to the public, it was founded by the wife of John Rylands in his name and memory.

Now part of the University of Manchester it’s pretty much a real-life Hogwarts studying room and one of the highlights of any visit to the city. 

  

2. Mafra Palace Library, Portugal

One of my favorite discoveries so far in Portugal is the Mafra Palace.

                                           

 Located less than an hour from Lisbon by bus, the city of Mafra is quite compact, but the Mafra Palace dominates. This vast building is UNESCO listed, and with an entry for only €3 it’s a bargain.

You can wander through various rooms and halls throughout the palace, including visiting the Library. 

Mafra Palace dates back to 1717 when construction began and was completed in 1755 by the Royal Family. It’s one of the countless beautiful palaces we have in the country, many of which are open to the public and a dream to wander around.

3. Anna Amalia Library, Weimar, Germany

The town of Weimar in Germany is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its contribution to the arts and as an intellectual center in the early 1800s.

                                                   

Tragically the library had a fire in 2004 that destroyed much of its decoration and books but through a dedicated restorative team around 60,000 volumes and the grand interior were restored. 

One of the first public libraries in Germany, the original space was part of a royal art collection dating back to 1552 and over the centuries the collection has moved into different rooms in the palace before its current, post-fire beauty that it is now. You can also explore the gardens and other rooms of the palace on your visit. 

4. Biblioteca di Brera, Milan

                                       

The library is part of the art institute in Milan and it is also open to visitors as a public library. One of the largest libraries in Italy its collections contains scientific, legal, and historic texts. 

The impressive architecture of the building and the courtyard add to the grandeur so it’s well worth popping in if you are in this hip area of Milano. More Info.

5. Trinity College Library, Dublin

                                      

The University of Dublin’s library, and the largest in the country, the dark-wood work, and shelves stacked with volumes is one of the coolest buildings to check out on a tour of the city.

The 18th-century building is one of the most beautiful historic libraries in Europe and boasts more than 200,000 books in its imposing ‘long room’. It also houses the ‘Book of Kells’, a world-famous gospel manuscript dating back to the 9th century. 

6. El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookshop, Argentina

                                                 

Not taken a library, but rather a bookshop, this grand building in Buenos Aires had to make the list. Originally a performing-arts venue when it opened in 1919, it is now one of the largest book Stuckists in South America.

  When it was converted into a book store, the theatre seats were removed and replaced with shelving for the collection and now you can browse the store, find a snug corner to read in or if you are lucky, you can enjoy the live piano music when being played. More info.

7. Klementinum, Prague, Czech Republic

                                              

The Klementinum is one of the largest building complexes in Europe and the Baroque library bills itself as ‘the most beautiful library in the world’ and they might just be right.

   

Guided tours take you through the grandeur of the library, with various astronomical clocks amongst the 20,000-strong book collection. The ceiling is a true masterpiece .

    

8. Yusuhara Community Library, Kochi, Japan

                                                

A library designed by no less than the man behind the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Stadium, Kengo Kuma.

   Located in the beautiful village of Yusuhara, made even more magnificent thanks to its forested mountain setting and buried electricity cables, rather than overhanging like much of the region, this picturesque library is a homage to the woodwork the renowned artists like to design with.

In fact, there are more buildings of his work here, including a museum in his dedication. The library itself is a warm, open place, with dramatic wooden beams erupting from the ceiling, a grand piano at the entrance, and cosy corners to settle into. The wooden cube-like design outside is equally as striking, and it fits in perfectly with the nature of this region, which is well worth a visit for many other reasons beyond the library.

9. Biblioteca Joanina, Coimbra, Portugal

Construction of this grand building was completed in 1728 and the three-floor library is part of the University of Coimbra in central Portugal.

                                       

The towering dark wood bookshelves contrast against the ornate gold doorways making the main room breathtaking. The academic prison underneath is another extra to visit on your tour of the library.

     10. The Public Library, New York

One of the most famous libraries in the world and home to various talks and presentations, as well as its vast collection of books, The Public Library is a place for everyone to learn.

                                      

With over 50-million items, ranging from traditional books to digital media, the lovingly curated collection which has been built up over 150-years provides a peaceful respite from the buzz of the big apple. 

    

11. Carolina Rediviva, Uppsala, Sweden

                                               

Mixing clean-white bookshelves with chandeliers, this grand building which completed construction in 1841 is a gem. In the reading rooms, height wins, from tall windows to tall columns, it’s an open space perfect for flicking through a few chapters. In the main hall though, home to some 5-million books, you’ll be blown away by the light colours and imposing light pieces.

The collection boasts the ‘Silver Bible’, a 6th-century rare manuscript and map collection that is an exciting draw for visitors to this part of Uppsala, and the hand-written music notations by none other than Mozart himself.

12. The National Library of Finland

                                                

The Helsinki University Library by Anttinen Oiva Architects has won awards for its white, futuristic curved ceilings but if you like your libraries served up with domed ceilings and intricate artwork, then the National Library of Finland is well worth popping your head into.

13. Stuttgart City Library, Germany

                                                  

Opened in 2011 the ultra-modern, white lines of the 40-metre high public library room in Stuttgart is a sharp contrast to the ornate finishing's of its sister in Weimar. From the outside, this box-shaped building really comes alive at night with the glowing light from each of its large square windows.

     Inside, its well-placed staircases and leading lines make for more than the perfect Instagram shot, they make a great place to settle into your favorite novel. With a nod to how public libraries should be open to all, on the four sides of the hall you can find the word Library in German, English, Arabic, and Korean.

14. Lincoln College Library, Oxford, UK

                                     

A converted church, the Lincoln College Library in Oxford is now a beautiful University study space. The 18th-century All Saints Church only re-opened as a library in 1975 while retaining the grandeur of its former life.

     With a range of modern study literature and early classics including theatre and a dedicated Hebrew collection, the main draw for visitors to Oxford is the architecture of the building itself. You are able to visit Lincon College as a small group during stipulated visitor hours.