Library
The Rilliana Library is one of the most significant spaces in
Poppi Castle, a place where the castle’s history is intertwined with that of knowledge and the preservation of knowledge.
/A library inside the castle/
Housed within the complex’s historic rooms, it represents a rare example of an ancient library inserted in a medieval fortified context, where, over time, defense and government functions were accompanied by a profound cultural vocation.
The Rilliana Library is located on the first floor of the castle, in the rooms that since the Middle Ages housed the administrative offices of the Florentine Vicars and their collaborators. Since 1914, these spaces have been permanently dedicated to the preservation of the library’s collection, transforming the castle into a place of study and consultation.
The library’s name is linked to Earl Fabrizio Rilli Orsini, a nobleman of Poppi origin who, in 1825, in an act of great generosity, decided to donate his book collection to the local community. His desire was to create a public library, accessible and useful to the citizens, thus giving rise to the original core of the Rilliana Library.
A heritage of centuries
Today, the library holds approximately 25,000 volumes, spanning the XII century to the late XIX century. Among the most valuable collections are:
- a manuscript collection consisting of approximately 850 volumes, of which 150 are medieval
- an important collection of incunabula, with approximately 1,000 specimens
After the unification of Italy, this initial collection was joined by the entire book collection of the Camaldoli Hermitage, which was transferred to the castle following the suppression of religious orders. Over the course of two centuries, further donations and bequests from local families contributed to enriching the collection.
The books housed here are not simply exhibits, but living testimonies to a past of study, administration, research, and the transmission of knowledge.
Between books, documents and memory
The presence of the Rilliana Library has played a decisive role in redefining the role of Poppi Castle over time. From a medieval fortress and seat of institutional power, the castle has also transformed into a center of cultural preservation, a place where the historical memory of the area is collected and preserved.
Documents, historical texts, and ancient volumes recount centuries of local, institutional, and cultural history, offering a fundamental key to understanding the evolution of Casentino and its communities.
A unique environment
The rooms housing the Rilliana Library maintain a quiet, intimate atmosphere, where architecture and content interact naturally. Shelving, volumes, and visitor spaces blend harmoniously into the castle’s historic structure, without altering its identity.
Here, time seems to slow down, allowing visitors to perceive the value of knowledge as a foundational element of the complex’s history.
The Library today
Today, the Rilliana Library is an integral part of the cultural itinerary of Poppi Castle. It represents a reference point for scholars, researchers, and visitors interested in discovering a lesser-known, yet essential, aspect of the castle’s history.
Its presence testifies to how Poppi Castle was not only a place of battle and power, but also a space dedicated to preserving memory and disseminating knowledge, strengthening its role as a cultural center of Casentino.
The Historical Archive
The Municipality of Poppi owns an important historical archive of 5,500 documents that chronicle the history of Casentino since the XIV century. Part of this archive is preserved at Poppi Castle.
- Consultations by appointment
- Tel. 0575 502221
- Email. riliana@casentino.toscana.it
/Discover the castle rooms/
A journey through history, architecture and memory
Inside Poppi Castle, the Chapel represents one of the most intimate and evocative spaces in the complex. Designed as a place of meditation and spirituality, it embodies the castle’s history not only as a religious space, but as a space deeply connected to the daily lives of its inhabitants.