梵蒂岡對公眾開放圖書館

梵蒂岡對公眾開放圖書館
Vatican City opens the Vatican Library to the public
10 Nov 2010
Translation by Autumnson Blog
St. Peter’s Square. Source: Samuraijohnny
聖彼得廣場。來源：Samuraijohnny

For those fervently praying for a glimpse of what the Vatican Library has to show, here’s the opportunity of a lifetime: the Vatican has reconstructed a smaller version of their library for the public, and they will be opening the exhibit on Wednesday.
對於那些熱切地祈禱希望一窺梵蒂岡圖書館展示的東西，這裡是一生的機會：梵蒂岡已重建一個較小版本的圖書館給市民，和他們在上週三作開幕展覽。
The exhibition recreates in smaller version the original Vatican Library’s frescoed rooms.
展覽以較小版本的原梵蒂岡圖書館的壁畫室重現。
Lovers of art pieces, ancient books, ancient documents and other illustrations will get to see and even touch the antique treasures—almost.
藝術作品、古書籍、古文件及其它插圖的愛好者，將能看到或甚至觸摸到古董珍品 - 幾乎。
In fact, the displays are high quality facsimiles. But to preserve the sensation of authenticity, guests are required to wear white gloves before they are allowed to touch the facsimiles.
事實上，展示的都是高品質的摹本。但是為了保持真實性的感覺，客人被要求穿戴白色手套，在他們被容許觸摸摹本之前。
Most of the documents held in the original Vatican Library are antique materials and require careful handling because of their fragile state. The acidic content of human perspiration is damaging to the antique documents, which is why researchers and librarians are required to wear white cotton gloves when they are handling the papers.

No need to bring your own gloves, though. The Vatican has gone so far as to provide the white cotton gloves themselves to the tourists upon their entry to the library.

One of the documents on display is the “Borgianus Latinus”, which was a missal used by Pope Alexander VI.

Pope Alexander VI became pope in the same year that Christopher Columbus discovered America.

An antique edition of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, which was published back in 1564, will also be featured at the exhibit.

Aside from the facsimiles, original works are also going to be displayed, such as a 7th century Koran — but viewers will not be allowed to touch these.

The real library contains over 1.6 million rare books, coins, manuscripts, wax seals and first editions.

The title of the exhibit is “Understanding the Vatican Library: a History Open to the Future”. It is located at the left side of the colonnade at Braccio Carlo Magno. It will be open to the public until 31 Jan.

http://www.webinquirer.co.uk/vatican-city-opens-the-vatican-library-to-the-public/8850/