The Heritage
The ancient library heritage consists of:
- 1,156 manuscripts, including 223 medieval Latin codices;
- 483 incunabula;
- 10,732 volumes from the sixteenth century (cataloged);
- 14,484 volumes from the seventeenth century (cataloged);
- 16,936 volumes from after 1830 (cataloged);
- Approximately 20,000 volumes from the 18th and 19th centuries (estimated number to be cataloged);
- 789 miscellaneous volumes.
The History
The Seminary of Padua, established in its current location by Bishop Gregorio Barbarigo in 1670, became, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, “a center of culture of a higher level, able to compete with the university faculties […] producing a continuous series of abbots and professors across various disciplines, especially law, literature, philosophy, and science” (A. Poppi, Church and University, in P. Gios [ed.], Diocese of Padua [Religious History of Veneto, 6], Giunta Regionale del Veneto, Padua 1996, p. 564). Barbarigo himself endowed the seminary with a printing press and a library that grew over the following centuries, thanks to numerous bequests and donations.
A significant increase in the library’s holdings came with the purchase of Count Alfonso Alvarotti’s valuable collection in 1720. Between that year and 1740, three large monumental rooms were constructed in the western wing of the Seminary, furnished with imposing cabinets designed by the Paduan architect Giovanni Gloria and others crafted by the renowned Bellunese carver Andrea Brustolon, a gift from Jacopo Facciolati. This expansion allowed the library to accommodate later donations, notably those from Paduan bishops Nicolò Antonio Giustiniani (1772-1796) and Francesco Scipione Dondi dall’Orologio (1807-1819), the latter rich in ancient Paduan codices.
During the Napoleonic period, librarian Andrea Coi (1810-1836) took advantage of the suppression of monasteries to acquire important volumes on ecclesiastical history as well as Latin, Greek, and Italian classics. Nineteenth-century bequests include those of Girolamo Zanettini (Conventual Franciscan and the last inquisitor in Padua), Girolamo Mantovani, Giuseppe Furlanetto (a distinguished seminary master), and historian Pietro Balan. Donations and purchases have continued over the years.
Thanks to the intervention of the Veneto Region, the catalog of medieval Latin manuscripts was published in 1998. In 2001, the computerized cataloging of printed books from the 16th to the 18th centuries began in collaboration with the National Bibliographic Service through the Veneto University Pole. This initiative received financial support from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo, under an agreement that also involved the University of Padua Library Center.
In 2008, the catalog of incunabula was published, and that same year, the Modern Section of the library was opened, connected to the Theological Faculty of Triveneto.
As of 2023, the two sections, modern and ancient, have separated and formed an independent Library of the Seminary of Padua. To learn more about the history of the Library of the Padova Seminary, please visit the Documentation section.
1664 (end of May)
Card. Gregorio Barbarigo (1625-1697) arrives in Padua.
1670 (4 November)
Opening of the new seminary
1684
Foundation of the Seminary Printing House.
1697 (18 June)
Gregorio Barbarigo died, leaving the seminary as his heir. He was succeeded by Card. Giorgio Corner.
1720
Francesco Canale (1663-1742) becomes the first person in charge of the library. The acquisition of Count Alfonso Speroni Alvarotti’s collection and the construction of the southern hall date back to these years.
1742
Antonio Sandini (1692-1751) succeeds Canale.
1751
Egidio Forcellini (1688-1768) served as librarian for a short time. He was succeeded by Clemente Sibiliato (1719-1795). Andrea Maggia (1714-1770), Angelo Bortoletti (not to be confused with the namesake who was rector from 1698 to 1746), and Vincenzo Bocchini were also assigned to the library as assistants.
1774
Giovanni Pizzati (1733-1810) of Piovene, librarian and great bibliophile. Bishop Nicolò Antonio Giustiniani donated his collection of 7,500 volumes.
1810
After a five-year collaboration, Pizzati was succeeded by Andrea Coi (Caselle de’ Ruffi, 27 February 1766 – Padua, 21 July 1836), a relative of Rector Giovanni Coi. From 1829, he was assisted by Virgilio Guglielmi.
1837
After the premature death of Guglielmi, Bishop Modesto Farina appointed Giuseppe Valentinelli (1805-1874), a priest from Belluno, to run the library. Along with Valentinelli, helpers Girolamo Bazzatini and Agostino Doro are also noted.
1841
Valentinelli goes to Marciana as assistant librarian and then librarian.
1842
Domenico Barbaran (1813-1894) becomes librarian. Documents indicate that Evangelista De Piero (1820-1898) served as librarian.
1862
Barbaran leaves the seminary. Antonio Vincenzo Argenti (1811-1876) becomes librarian. In 1864, Giuseppe Vicenzetto (1837-1892) is appointed assistant librarian. Collaboration with Pietro Balan (1840-1893) may have started during this time.
1876
Francesco Zordan (1823-1889) serves as librarian until his death.
1890
Innocenzo Stievano (1846-1923) takes over.
1907
Tommaso Lancerotto (1860-1941), professor of mathematics, becomes librarian.
1932
Sebastiano Serena (1882-1959), professor of church history, assumes the role.
1949
Ireneo Daniele (1910-2000), professor of church history, serves until 8 October 1975.
1950 (17 ottobre)
Mons. Girolamo Bortignon, Bishop of Padua, inaugurates the new consultation rooms.
1965
Dantesca exhibition.
1967
Exhibition dedicated to the Typography of the Seminary, ten years after the death of Giuseppe Bellini (1888-1957).
1968
Exhibition dedicated to Egidio Forcellini.
1970 (22 February-8 March)
Exhibition of the Bible.
1974 (17-30 October)
Petrarchesca exhibition (catalogue available upon request).
1975
Pierantonio Gios (1940-2014), professor of church history, also becomes Director of the Library, with the collaboration of Giorgio Scurti (since 1990) and Debora Casubolo (since 1995), while Luciano Cavazzana serves as assistant librarian (since 1997).
1996 (30 October)
Signature of the agreement between the Episcopal Seminary of Padua (Rector: Mons. Giuseppe Zanon) and the University of Padua for the valorization of the Library of the Seminary.
1997 (April)
The 300th anniversary of the death of San Gregorio Barbarigo.
From 17 April to 3 August: Exhibition “The Seminary of Gregorio Barbarigo. Three hundred years of art, culture, and faith” (guide available upon request).
Start of the cataloging of modern heritage in the SBN PUV pole (cataloguers: Francesco Gallo, Riccardo Polanzan).
1998
Publication of the catalogue of medieval Latin manuscripts (edited by A. Donello, G.M. Florio, N. Giovè, L. Granata, G. Canova Mariani, P. Massalin, A. Mazzon, F. Toniolo, S. Zamponi).
Inauguration of the restoration workshop and the Bookbinding Workshop. The first renovations take place.
2001 (25 September)
Signature of the agreement between the Episcopal Seminary of Padua (Rector: Mons. Sandro Panizzolo), the University of Padua, and the Cassa di Risparmio Foundation of Padua and Rovigo for the cataloguing of books from the 16th century. The project is coordinated by Luisa Buson of the University Centre for Libraries.
2001 (autumn)
Start of the arrangement of the bookcases, the census, the handling, and dusting of the volumes by Giuseppe Campagnaro, parish priest of Sant’Anna Morosina (PD). Beginning of the cataloguing of books from the 16th century (Personal catalogers: Michele Agostini, Giovanna Bergantino, Foscarina Ciceri, Lorenzo di Lenardo, Maria Cristina Fazzini, Mattea Gazzola, Paola Massalin, Alessandro Pasquali, Alessandra Pedrina, Chiara Razzolini, Stefania Villani. Tutors: Luisa Giacomini, Paola Mario, Giulia Rigoni Savioli).
2004 (18 June)
Pierantonio Gios becomes director of the Library and the Archive of the Curia. He was succeeded by Riccardo Battocchio (b. 1962), professor of dogmatic theology.
2005 (29 April)
Study day “The sixteenth century in the library of the Padova seminary” – Conclusion of the cataloging of books of the sixteenth century.
2005 (September)
New agreement between the Seminary, University, Foundation, and the Savings Bank of Padova and Rovigo. Beginning of the cataloguing of the volumes of the 17th century (Personal catalogers: Giovanna Bergantino, Beatrice Boldrini, Achille Cantamessa, Lorenzo Di Lenardo, Maria Cristina Fazzini, Chiara Razzolini, Concetta Rociola, Valentina Sonzini, Stefania Villani).
2006
The service of professionally qualified librarians begins in September: Achille Cantamessa (2006-2009, until February 2011 in the Modern Section), Maria Cristina Fazzini (2009-2012), Giovanna Bergantino (from 21 March 2012).
Between September and November, in the Red Room (north), a dusting operation, disinfestation using the Airsystem method, and treatment of wooden structures were carried out by the company SIS Disinfestazione (Padova) with the financial support of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo.
2007 (January)
The collaboration of Giancarlo Gambasin begins
2008
Publication of the catalogue of incunabula (edited by L. Armstrong, P. Scapecchi, F. Toniolo, G. Mariani Canova, P. Gios).
2008 (October)
Apertura della Sezione Moderna, in collegamento con la Facoltà Teologica del Triveneto.
2009 (18 June)
Official inauguration of the Modern Section – Conclusion of the cataloguing of books from the 17th century.
2010
Between February and March, in the Black Room (south), a second dusting operation, disinfestation using the Airsystem method, and treatment of wooden structures were carried out by the company SIS Disinfestazione (Padua), with the financial support of the Veneto Region.
The cataloging of 18th-century volumes begins in July.
2013 (September)
Celestino Corsato (b. 1943), former professor of patrology, was appointed director of the Modern Section. Riccardo Battocchio continues to direct the Ancient Section.
2015
In June, the work of arrangement and partial inventory of the Historical Archive of the Padova Seminary, by Chiara Traverso, within the “Project Libraries and Historical Archives 2013” of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo ends.
On 20 October, the site libraseminariopda.it goes online.
2016
On 27 February, the Church celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Don Andrea Coi, a distinguished librarian from 1810 until his death in 1836.
2017
The second phase of the cataloguing of 18th-century volumes begins on 10 March.
2018
Celebration of the 250th anniversary of the death of Egidio Forcellini (Fener, 26 August 1688 – 5 April 1768): concert, conference, guided tour.
2019 (18 June)
After fifteen years, Riccardo Battocchio concludes his service as Director of the Library of the Episcopal Seminary in Padua. He is succeeded by Giovanna Bergantino, already active in the Library for the cataloguing of ancient books (since 2001) and as librarian (since 2012).