February 25, 2024

This new exhibition, the fifth to occur in the Permanent Exhibition Space inaugurated in 2021, presents an opportunity to turn our gaze to the Institution in its dimension as a “babel” of languages and spaces. The journey into this Babel takes place through the photographic perspective of the French artist Alain Fleischer. His approach takes into account the volumes, the works, and the structure of the Library in order to revive the past and place it in dialogue with the present.

Beginning with a large reproduction of the “Tower of Babel”, published by Athanasius Kircher in 1679, the exhibition moves up the entrance staircase, where the public can immerse themselves in the history of the Library thanks to a rich mosaic of photographic images taken from the Photographic Archive, the Archive of the Library, and the R.G. Fotografie collection. To these are added examples from other “minor” collections, all of which alternate with unpublished images by the artist. At the top of the staircase it is possible to enter into Fleischer’s poetic universe by means of some of the most emblematic works from his career. Other photographs, specially created for this occasion, are displayed in the following rooms, where they are accompanied by a wide selection of the Library’s historical photographs and by casts of ancient Arabic and Chinese steles.

The exhibition concludes in the antique room of the Barberini Library, for which the artist was inspired to create a site specific multimedia installation. In this room devoid of books, the voices of the volumes stored here for centuries will be able to be seen and heard.
Souvenirs de Babel is an opportunity to dwell both on the value of photography, as a visual expression of the historical stratification of an architecture, and on the existential necessity of rediscovering oneself with the help of external agents who can interpret and hand on the consciousness of a place and the timeless knowledge enshrined within.

• Visits are held exclusively in Italian
• For the entire duration of the exhibition the catalogue can be purchased directly at the Vatican Library or online. Each exhibition ticket entitles you to purchase one copy of the catalogue at a reduced price, both in case of simultaneous online purchase (bundle option) and in case of belated on-site purchase of the volume on the day of the visit.
• Single exhibition ticket: 10 Euros per person. Single ticket + catalogue (BUNDLE): 22 Euros (the catalogue can be collected at the end of the visit); Standard catalogue price: 18 Euros
• The exhibition will be open to visitors one afternoon a week, every week, and one Saturday each month. The visit schedule can be viewed during the booking process. Each shift will be bookable online within the previous 48 hours.
• For students groups reservations or for any other information, please contact the Office via eventi@vatlib.it
• During every Saturday visit, a Sistine Hall tour will be added to the standard exhibition itinerary. The duration of these visits will be around one and a half hours, and there will be no changes in the booking methods and conditions.

• Visitors will enter from Porta Sant’ Anna, on via di Porta Angelica, 15 minutes before the start of the booked shift. At the entrance, near the Gendarmerie guardhouse, our staff will welcome the groups and accompany them to the Library.
• All visitors are reminded that to book tickets it will be necessary to enter the number of their ID card or passport. The same document must be shown when entering the Vatican City.