ItalyUpdate

The Biblioteca Hertziana, Rome, considered one of the most important centres of documentation of Italian art in the world, is undergoing a major restructuring project. According to plans drawn up by Spanish architect Juan Navarro Baldeveg, a new hall to house the library storerooms, reading rooms and the over 800,000 images from the library archives will be constructed in the gardens of the 16 th century Palazzo Zuccari (historic seat of the Herziana) near the Spanish Steps.

The library expects to reopen in 2010. Work has been considerably delayed due to the discovery of important archaeological remains on the site. Once completed, visitors will be able to view the excavations of the 60 AD villa of the Roman war hero Licinio Lucullus through an underground glass tunnel in the library grounds.

The Herziana was founded in 1913 by German writer and patron of the arts Henriette Hertz and has a collection of over 270,000 volumes. While the library is closed, its database can be consulted online and reservations can be made to view volumes from the collection in a room of the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome.

For information: www.biblhertz.it