On October 21, 2024, at 11:00 AM, the National Library of Albania opened the Venetian Collections exhibition in collaboration with the Institute of Culture. Until 17 November, everyone can visit for free every day from 9:00 to 19:00.

This exhibition is one of the most extensive and significant in the institution’s history, featuring approximately 600 original books and maps printed in Venice between the and 18th centuries.

Notably, many of these items are publicly exhibited for the first time.

Curated by Mrs. Elisabetta Sciarra, Director of the Central National Library of Florence, which was among Europe’s oldest and most prestigious libraries.

This exhibition is structured into several thematic sections:

⁃ Section One focuses on the history of Venice as a pivotal center of the European Renaissance. Venice was a central hub of European printing from the 15th century through the late 18th century. This period saw the resurgence of many works from Greco-Roman antiquity and Byzantium, many of which were translated into Latin or Italian. The section will showcase rare works, including editions by prominent Venetian printers such as Paolo Manuzio, Bernardino Benali, and Girolamo Albrizzi.

⁃ Section Two focuses on Albania and Greece, where Venice exerted significant influence for centuries. Of particular importance in this section are some of the earliest known texts in the Albanian language, including works by Buzuku and Bogdani. Additionally, Venice was the publishing site for many significant works on the history of Albania and its national hero, Skanderbeg, authored by figures such as Marin Barleti, Marin Beçikemi, and Dhimitër Frangu. This section also features original maps of Albania and its key cities.

– A special section is dedicated to Venice’s interactions with the Orient, focusing on military conflicts with the Ottoman Empire. The materials presented here offer a valuable repository of information relevant to the study of Albanian history.

⁃ Another section addresses Venice’s renown as a center for travel and geography. This section features works that document Venetian voyages and geographical discoveries

⁃ The final two sections are dedicated to science, literature, and religion publications. The exhibition concludes with a section dedicated to recent publications on the historical relations between Albanians and Venetians.