Biblioteca Estense Universitaria

The Biblioteca Estense Universitaria is a public research library housed in the Palazzo dei Musei in Modena and ranks among Italy's foremost repositories of rare manuscripts. It originated as the private court library of the Este dynasty, the Ferrarese noble family whose Renaissance patronage shaped art and letters across northern Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its crown jewel is the Bibbia di Borso d'Este (1455–1461), an illuminated Bible considered one of the masterpieces of Italian manuscript painting. Designated an Italian national monument, the library is open Monday through Thursday 8:30–19:15 and Friday until 15:45.