Alright, I know I write romance and erotica (among other things), but I may have lured you into this post under false pretenses. Instead of porn that takes place in libraries, I decided to take some time on this lovely Monday to share some photos of incredibly beautiful libraries. I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but here the sky is gray and it’s the perfect day to curl up in any one of these gorgeous places.
Without further ado, enjoy these gorgeous libraries!
Austrian National Library, Vienna
I don’t know about you, but this library fulfills every Beauty and the Beast fantasy I’ve ever had. I am also 100% percent sure that this place is so beautiful, I would not be allowed inside for fear of spilling something.
Real Gabinete Português de Leitura, Rio de Janeiro
According to the library’s website, “Among the rarest works of the library we can mention the edition ‘prínceps’ of ‘The Lusíadas’, of 1572, that belonged to the ‘Company of Jesus’; the ‘Ordinations of Dom Manuel’ by Jacob Cromberger, published in 1521; the ‘Capitolos de Cortes and Leys, which on some of them were made’, edited in 1539; ‘The true information of the lands of Preste Joam, according to saw and written by Father Francisco Alvarez’, 1540. [The library] also has autograph manuscripts of ‘Amor de Perdição’ by Camilo Castelo Branco and the ‘Dictionary of the Tupy Language’ by Gonçalves Dias, as well as hundreds of letters from writers.”
Boston Public Library
Founded in 1848, this was the first large free municipal library in the United States. I know this photo doesn’t actually depict any of the extensive collection this library houses, but these murals by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes are breathtaking.
Trinity College Library, Dublin
This library feels like it could go on forever and there are far worse ways to spend eternity. If it looks familiar, there was actually some controversy involving this library’s architecture and Star Wars: Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones. There was an allegation that Lucasfilm had used the design of this building without permission for the Jedi archives in the Jedi temple. However, Lucasfilm claimed they didn’t do it intentionally and the library didn’t care enough to pursue a lawsuit because they’re too busy doing things like housing the famous Book of Kells, a manuscript created by Celtic monks around the year 800 A.D.
The Library of El Escorial, Spain
This library served as the inspiration behind the design of the Vatican’s library and it’s easy to see why. The building currently houses over 40,000 volumes and the frescoes depict the seven liberal arts: rhetoric, dialectic, music, grammar, arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy. The library includes many important illuminated manuscripts, such as the Ottonian Golden Gospels of Henry III (1045–46) and the only known copy of the Kitab al-I’tibar, a 12th-century Syrian autobiography, was discovered there in the 19th century.
Which library is your favorite? Do you have one that you love that I’ve left off this (admittedly short) list? Let me know in the comments! I’m off to write some library porn . . . the other kind. *exaggerated wink*
Like this post? Please consider clicking here to support me on Patreon so I can regularly bring you more content like this! I can’t guarantee that supporting me on Patreon will cause you to have endless good hair days . . . but I can’t guarantee that it won’t either.
Emily Regan 