The cultural heart of Civitavecchia
In the center of the old Civitavecchia the library, founded at the end of 1800, is currently located in a wing of the old hospital in Piazza Calamatta. The building was built in the 17th century and was used as a health facility until the 1970s, when the new hospital was built. After years of abandonment the building was restored and today it is home to the library and the historical archive. The library has large spaces for users and guarantees free access to books.
The library was set up inside a building with a glorious past. This is the Palazzo dell'Ospedale vecchio, which was built in the 17th century around the ancient Church of S. Paolo. The health facility replaced a pre-existing infirmary for galley crews, established by the Knights of Rhodes between 1523 and 1530. The hospital was divided into two distinct sections: the Military Hospital of the SS. Concezione and the Civil Hospital of S. Paolo. In 1638 the two structures were joined by a small bridge and their management passed from the Arciconfratenita del Gonfalone to the Hospitaller Order of S. Giovanni di Dio (Fatebenefratelli). Under the pontificate of Innocent XI, the Hospital was renovated and enlarged thanks to the intervention of the General Treasurer Giuseppe Renato Imperiali, as evidenced by the inscription dating back to 1688, located on the coner of the Presidiary Infirmary in Via delle Vecchie Mura. The building was used as a health facility until the 1970s, when the New Hospital was built, which retains the name of S. Paolo. After many years of abandonment, the Palace was deeply restored and brought back to its ancient splendor. Today it is home to the Historical and Notarial Archives as well as the library of the Municipality of Civitavecchia.
