Biblioteca Ariostea

The Biblioteca Comunale Ariostea is Ferrara's public city library, housed inside the Palazzo Paradiso — a late-medieval urban palace in the historic center of this UNESCO World Heritage city. Named after Ferrara's most celebrated poet, Ludovico Ariosto, whose epic 'Orlando Furioso' shaped Renaissance literature, the library was established around 1750 and holds a substantial collection of manuscripts, incunabula, and historical cartographic material. Designated an Italian national monument, it functions both as a working research library and a quietly atmospheric reading room. Opening hours run Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday until 1 p.m.