The Royal Library, founded by Carlo Alberto in 1837, is part of the Royal Museums complex designed by the architect Carlo Amadeo of Castellamonte, residence of the Royal House of Savoy until 1865.
The monumental Salone was designed by the court architect Pelagio Pelagi who filled the Library with precious double height wooden shelves and had the ceilings painted by the artists Moja and Trefogli in monochrome subjects depicting Science and the Arts.
It holds important collections of manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts, engravings, more than 2,000 drawings, and, above all, the fund acquired by Carlo Alberto, of Leonardo da Vinci drawings including the Self-portrait, the Face of the Angel, preparatory drawing for the Virgin of the Rocks held in the Louvre, and the Codex on the flight of birds.
Please note:
From 1st June 2026, the Royal Library will change its opening hours: Mondays and Fridays from 9.00 am to 1.30 pm; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Last admission is half an hour before closing time. On Sundays, the exhibition dedicated to Margherita di Savoia will be open exceptionally from 9.00 am to 1.30 pm, with last admission at 1.00 pm (admission included in the Royal Museums ticket).
For consultation by researchers, the Reading Room of the Royal Library will be open at the following times: Monday and Friday 1.30 pm – 6.30 pm; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 8.30 am – 1.30 pm.
Closed on Wednesdays.