It’s nearly impossible to define the most beautiful libraries while
solely considering their purpose: to offer infinite access to knowledge
to anyone at no cost. As the location of countless community resources
and places of cultural engagement, the draw of these institutions is
inherent. After all, as Albert Einstein once said, “The only thing you
absolutely have to know is where the library is.” Still, some have
aesthetic pull as well. From the Americas to Europe, Asia, and Africa,
visually beautiful libraries exist on nearly every continent. Located on
university campuses, in monasteries, and even within a shopping mall,
these palaces of learning are meant to be savored like a good book. Some
are hundreds of years old, adorned with gilded finishes, carved wood
shelves, and captivating frescoes. Others are strikingly modern, with
designs conjured up by top contemporary architects featuring sleek
lines, gravity-defying book storage, and futuristic details. In either
case they capture the spirit of wonder and the pursuit of learning that
is both necessary to design a one-of-a-kind space and often found in the
patrons who visit it. Here, AD surveys just a small collection of
thousands of stunning athenaeums around the world, which top our list as
the most picturesque.
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