LIBRERIA MARCIANA 1537-1588 designed and built by Jacopo Sansovino and completed by Vincenzo Scamozzi. It was built according to the wishes of the magistracy of St. Mark's who wanted it to house an important collection of ancient manuscripts that Cardinal Bessarione had donated to the Republic in 1468. Sansovino knew exactly how to unite the classical, doric and ionic style in his project and to make them part of the already existing surroundings. Today the National Marciana Library is housed here (approx. 750,000 volumes). [Beginning of the page] [Home] [Preceding page] [Next file] translated by C.Cawthra http://www.venicebanana.com - copyrights 2000-2001 SAMIS

The Library as seen from the waterfront [49 K]