My Trip In Italy (Part 1A): Milan - Biblioteca Ambrosiana

Invited by my father’s friends to Italy, I went there for fencing training and also visited many different places, such as Rome, Milan, and Florence. Yesterday, I just concluded this multi-week trip.

The trip gave me a glimpse into the country’s culture and architecture, as well as the influence of the Italian Renaissance on modern-day Italy. The experience also let me observe the everyday lives of local Italians, and I noticed details I’d never seen before.

In this article and in the following weeks, I’m going to share my personal experiences and thoughts from my trip to Italy. This is not a guide for tourists nor a pretentious review; It’s completely my honest opinions and nothing else.

To begin this series, let’s start with Milan, a city known for its trending fashion, museums, and central cathedral. Hope you enjoy!

Biblioteca Ambrosiana

The oldest public library in Milan, it contains the largest single set of Leonardo da Vinci’s hand-drawn diagrams and writings (in Italian), called the Codex Atlanticus (Atlantic Codex).

A portion of the leaves (pages) of this 12-volume bound set are on display in the main hall of the historic library, which is also the last room you visit on your tour. This hall is itself mesmerizing, with centuries-old dusty books adorning the bookshelves that line every wall, a tall ceiling that gives you a spacious feeling, and dim lighting that highlights the leaves displayed within.

According to a very nice security guard whom I interviewed at the library, the leaves on display are replaced roughly every 3 months with another set of leaves. This means even if you’ve been here before, there are still sets you’ve never seen.

The detail on each of the leaves is exceptional, and you could actually see the individual ink particles on the paper degrading with the passing of time. I personally like the drawings more, though my preference is probably biased because I can’t read Italian particularly well or understand the ‘mirrored’ handwriting of Leonardo. Included among the Codex Atlanticus are the diagrams for some of the recreations in the science museum (which I’ll cover later on), such as that of a giant crossbow and a hoist system.

In addition to the Codex, the museum also has countless artworks and sculptures. There’s a room that houses Leonardo da Vinci’s artworks, like a replica of the famous ‘Last Supper’.

There’s also an entire exhibit dedicated to the original charcoal-chalk sketch of Raphael’s The School of Athens. I later visited the final version, which was painted onto the ceiling of the then Pope’s personal library in Vatican City. Although it’s black and white and lacking in vibrancy, the original sketch presents a surprisingly overwhelming amount of realism and detail, which I’ve never seen before. The individual lines can be seen clearly up close, yet from afar, they merge into one single object that transcends two-dimensional space. It certainly is a masterpiece on its own.

You can also go see the many sculptures lining the outside corridors and the courtyard. If you’re interested in gold ornaments, an exhibit on the top floor has on display all kinds of ancient artifacts, from miniature Egyptian obelisks to a sculpture of the Roman God Apollo riding his enchanted golden chariot.

There are also many galleries presenting Medieval art, such as altarpieces, frescoes, etc. I noticed throughout my trip in Italy that galleries dedicated to art from this period are common. But personally, I find Medieval artworks to be bland, perhaps because they tend to prioritize expressing stories and spiritual values over individual emotions.

Conclusion

If you plan on visiting the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, I recommend leaving at least a day. Do be aware that they require you to store your bags at reception, even if they don’t have signs beforehand.

Thank you for reading. In the next article, I’ll continue sharing my experiences in Milan, specifically my visit to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology. If you liked today’s article, please consider supporting me by liking and sharing.