About the Library

The History and Historical Documentation Library was established as a departmental library in 1998 through the merger of the libraries of the Institute of Medieval and Modern History and the Institute of Palaeography and Diplomatics. It is no longer a departmental library but now forms part of the humanities sector of the University Library Service.

The history of the Legnaia Courtyard — legnaia meaning “woodstore” in Italian — home to the library, dates back to the 1400s. From the “women’s courtyard” to a library—this is how the spaces of the Ca’ Granda have evolved over time.

Cortile Legnaia. Dalla stabula alla biblioteca.

About the Library

From Woodstore to Library