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The Oblate Library
- Address
- Via dell'Oriuolo 26
50122 Firenze (FI)
- Opening hours/day of closure
- Monday 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed on Sunday and Holidays
Opened in May 2007, the Oblate Library is a small treasure in the heart of Florence. Located in the former Convent of the Oblate between Via dell'Oriuolo and Via Sant'Egidio, it is a cultural and multimedia center that fuses the antique and modern soul of the city. The Municipality of Florence took inspiration from the famous Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, both for the contemporary furnishing and modern services for visitors that the library offers.
A Brief History
The Convent of the Oblate, where the library is located, was built upon commission of Folco Portinari, illustrious figure in medieval Florence. Father of the famous Beatrice loved by Dante Alighieri, Folco built in 1288 the Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, the oldest hospital in Florence, as expiation for his sins. A few years later, the convent of the Oblate was built in order to assist sick Florentine women.
Legend has it that it was Donna Tessa, maidservant of Folco, that suggested he build the convent where she retired in her old age. The Oblate were in fact a secular order of devoted women that lived voluntarily a cloistered life taking care of the ill. The Oblate word comes from Latin and means "one that offers oneself to the other". They were in charge of taking care of sick women, cooking for them and washing their sheets. They lived there until 1936.
Since it was a cloistered convent, the building wasn't transformed and modernized over the centuries. It was built at the end of 14th century, at about the same time of the hospital, and it was enlarged in different times. The main cloister still preserves its genuine look with original flowered capitals that were typical of Florentine Gothic architecture. Where today stands the library's section of Conservation and Local History, was were in the past the women's wards and kitchens were located. The other parts of the convent were built over the centuries in order to meet the growing demands of the hospital.
The complex of the Oblate is an important artistic and architectural time capsule for Florence, because it maintained its original look. The antique cloister with its Gothic capitals, the wash terraces on the second floor and the other cloisters are original.
The Library today
The Oblate Library extends along the main old cloister and has three different levels connected with stairs and elevators. The main entrance is in Via dell'Oriuolo overlooking a small cloister, today perfectly restored.
The whole complex measures about 10.000 square meters and on the ground floor is the Section of Conservation and Local History. It displays many antique documents that show the ancient history of Florence and Tuscany.
On the first floor there are 3 large reading rooms with modern workspaces equipped computers, Sat TVs, DVD players and open bookshelves for visitors' free use. There is also the Museum of Prehistory that displays the precious collection of Paolo Graziosi, Florentine anthropologist and paleontologist.
On the second floor stand a beautiful large wash terrace, the children's section, newspaper library and a café. The open-space dedicated to children and young readers has plenty of space and organizes workshops all year round.
The Oblate library is completely accessible for visitors with special needs.
Services
Besides consultation and loan of books, the Library offers various services for its visitors from 0 years and up. Membership is free and can either be easily done online or directly at the info point on the first floor with a valid ID. Anyone can join in including foreigners from all over the world that stay in Florence. For example foreign students can join in for the last of their courses.
The main facilities at the Oblate Library are:
- Consultation: free consultation of books, DVD, newspapers and music CDs within the library. For the section of conservation and local history, you need to request assistance to access and view materials.
- Loans: you can borrow up to 8 books (4 books from the section of conservation and local history), 2 music cds and 2 DVDs. Loan lasts for 30 days for books and comics and 7 days for CDs and DVDs. You can also request books from other libraries.
- Internet connection: you can connect to the Internet for free by subscribing to the Pass service with a valid ID. You can use one of 35 internet stations inside the library for 1 hour per day, or use your laptop connecting through wi-fi for 3 hours per day.
- Playstation: you can use one of the 2 playstations and games for 1 hour per day
- Multimedia stations: there are 3 multimediali stations for watching movies, documentaries or Sat TV. There are also portable DVD and music players available.
- Events: the Library organizes many different events all year round such as workshops for children, reading sessions, guided tours and so on.
The Oblate Library is an important cultural center for Florence. Unique for its dimensions and services, it soon became a meeting point for Florentines and others. Inside it, you can meet people from all nationalities and different ages.
If this is not enough, on the second floor stands the café that has a spectacular view over the Duomo and Brunelleschi's Cupola.
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