Biblioteca Palafoxiana ("Palafoxian Library")
In this library you'll discover the Memory of the World.
5 Oriente 5

Founded in 1646 with the donation of 5,000 volumes from the private library of Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, the Palafoxian Library is currenty considered the first ever public library in the Americas and the only historical library that still has its original collection, shelving and furniture in place.

Its collection was mainly consulted by students and clerics, as the building where it is located used to be the Colegio de San Juan ("St John's School"). The donations from later bishops, the books confiscated from the Jesuits and donations from private citizens all now form part of a collection consisting of 42,556 volumes and 5,345 manuscripts.

The altarpiece, at the back of the library, is dedicated to "Our Lady of Trapani", whose image is shown in the great painting found in the center, surmounted by another that depicts St Thomas Aquinas. Keeping in mind that the main users of this collection were seminary students and clerics, the books are organized according to the following themes: holy books on the first level, on the second level texts written by the wise to achieve knowledge of the divine and on the last level, the human sciences; according to the thinking of the time, the foundation of all knowledge was knowledge of the divine.

Its tables of Tecali stone, its floor of brick and talavera tiles, its shelving of fine woods, its golden altarpiece, its valuable collection, the great building that houses it and its publishing projects all led to the Palafoxian Library being declared by UNESCO a "Memory of the World" in 2005.

Don't miss the temporary themed exhibitions held in the adjacent hall where some of this beautiful library's books are displayed!

Also don't miss seeing the lectern, still located in the library and which allows readers to consult books practically and easily!