Braidense

Braidense, officially Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense, is a historic library in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. It is considered one of Italy’s most important historical libraries, with a wide range of literary, documentary, and scholarly resources that support research across disciplines.

Its origins date to the late 18th century, when Milan’s public library system was reorganized under the rule of the Habsburgs. Over the ensuing centuries, the Braidense expanded through donations, acquisitions, and transfers from ecclesiastical, civic, and private sources, growing into a leading repository for manuscripts, early printed books, and regional archives.

The library’s holdings are diverse. They include medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, a substantial collection of incunabula and early modern prints, works of Italian literature and humanism, and historic maps and cartographic materials. Archival materials related to the history of Milan and Lombardy are also part of the collection, making the Braidense an important resource for researchers in humanities and social sciences.

Today the Braidense operates as a research library open to scholars and the public. It provides reading rooms, reference services, and digitization initiatives, with online catalogs and digital access to portions of its collections. The library collaborates with universities, cultural institutions, and other libraries in Milan and across Italy, contributing to preservation, access, and scholarship.

Beyond its own holdings, the Braidense is part of Milan’s rich cultural and archival landscape, complementing institutions such as the Biblioteca Ambrosiana and Brera’s academic and cultural offerings.