Umberto Eco's Study Reconstructed at Milan's Biblioteca Braidense

Five years after Umberto Eco's passing, his study has been recreated at the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense in Milan. This collection includes 1,328 rare books, meticulously arranged to mirror his original 'Bibliotheca semiologica, curiosa, lunatica, magica et pneumatica,' which was donated to the state in 2016. Curated by scholars from the University of Bologna and James Bradburne, the books are organized according to the 'rule of the good neighbor.' The exhibit features personal artifacts such as a flute and Mandrake comics, forming a Wunderkammer. The Studiolo was inaugurated on May 5, 2022, alongside the exhibition 'L'idea della biblioteca,' which highlights treasures like the 1499 Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. Eco's extensive library, exceeding 35,000 volumes, is currently on loan to the University of Bologna.