Vatican Apostolic Library Reopened to Scholars

After three years of renovations, the frescoed halls of the Vatican Apostolic Library reopened to scholars this week on September 20. The 9 million euro ($11.5 million) renovation plan involved updating the library with state-of-the-art security measures and climate-controlled rooms for its 150,000 volumes of precious manuscripts.

The library, started in the 1450s by Pope Nicholas V, originally consisted of 350 Latin manuscripts. Today, it houses one of the world’s best collections of illuminated manuscripts.

During a recent tour of the library, officials displayed a replica of the Urbino Bible, created for the Duke of Urbino by famed 15th-century artists David and Domenico Ghirlandaio. The book is said to contain more than a kilo of gold in its illuminated pages.

The collection also includes the “Codex B”—the oldest known bible, dating from about 325 CE. The book is believed to be one of the 50 bibles originally commissioned by Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman leader.

For the 4,000 to 5,000 scholars granted access to the library each year, the reopening is welcome news. For some, it means finally completing research projects that have been on hiatus for more than three years.

For more information on the Vatican Apostolic Library, please click here.