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Island of Elba Foresiana Library
The origins of the historical library dates back to 1815, when
Napoleon donate 2000 books from his private
collection to Portoferraio; Napoleonic
Library included important volumes about
literature, history, geography, military art, law, classic Greek
and Latin books that the emperor chose from Fontainebleau castle
and took to the island. During his exile, his library received
many more volumes, sent by Napoleon’s uncle, Cardinal
Fesch.
After the donation in 1815, the city mayor at that time, Traditi,
ordered to catalogue all the items and in the summertime the
library was opened to the audience. Aiming to create a rich
communal library, both Commun and Ministero della Pubblica
Istruzione (Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research,
MIUR) asked many intellectuals and authors to donate some
volumes, and many of them accepted, among others Giuseppe
Garibaldi and, in 1920, the Elban
intellectual Mario Foresi, who donate more
than 14.000 volumes from his precious personal library.
So far, in the precious library there are more than 20.000
volumes, including books signed by important authors like
Gabriele D’Anunzio, the
precious Erbario, by Joseph
Antoir (L'Herbier di Antoir), made around
1810-1830. During the last years, in the library it is possible
to see a department totally devoted to Elba Island, with
newspapers that tell how people used to
be and live (“come eravamo ”) on
Elba.
Information about Bibliothek Foresiana
| Opening Hours |
Monday – Wednesday – Friday: 9:00 - 12:00 Tuesday – Thursday: 15:00 - 18:00 Children Department: Monday – Thursday: 17:00 - 19:30 |
| Location and Info |
Cultural Center de Laugier, second floor Portoferraio old town - Via Salita Napoleone Tel.(+39)0565.937248 - 0565.937371 |
Pinacoteca Foresiana
It houses the Elban intellectual Mario Foresi’s art private collection, given to Portoferraio.
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