The Bus Trip 4: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana

Today we are going to visit the Vatican Library, the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. This is not to be confused with the Secret Archive, which is found in another part of the city. Those who want the quick trip can follow this guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H95PEq3jvvM 

Although there have been papal libraries ever since the emergence of papal power in the fourth and fifth centuries, The Vatican Library as we know it today is a product of the Italian Renaissance. This is due in some ways to a bull, ‘Ad decorum miltantis Ecclesiae’ (‘For the adornment of the militant Church’) of Pope Sixtus IV in 1475, which stipulated that the papal library be maintained as a permanent institution of the Papal States. It is always reassuring to know the requirement of your library has been written into law.      

The Grand Tour of the Vatican takes 27 minutes, so give yourself some space before siesta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg8SVfl40NU

 The Vatican and the Bodleian project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDSz6ngv77w 

In 2011, I attended an actual conference in Rome, where we visited several libraries. Four of those library visits are described on my library blog, the library of the Carmelite Postulator for Causes of Saints, the Library of the Institutum Carmelitanum, the Library of the Anglican Centre at Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, and most rewardingly the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana:   http://thecarmelitelibrary.blogspot.com/search/label/Biblioteca%20Apostolica%20Vaticana 

When in Rome, do as the tourists do. After our library visit you will wish to catch some of the other sights by joining Madeline, Genevieve, Miss Clavel (we always pronounce the name Cla-Vel) and their entourage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtT54OqxGZU 

Philip Harvey

Tour Guide