Prima dell’accademico Bonnard. Impressioni su libri e biblioteche in Sicilia dalla letteratura odeporica del Settecento

The tour of European scholars in Sicily during the eighteenth century privileged the study of the ruins of ancient civilizations but also considered the cultural aspects related to the contemporary use of books and documents (libraries and archives). Through the eye of travelers, alongside curious stories, sometimes covered by a legendary halo that might arouses mistrust, it is possible to identify the implementation of a very important transitional phase, a crucial milestone in Sicilian history. During the second half of the 18th century, there was a gradual abandonment of an elitist culture, reserved for nobles and clergy, in favour of wider and easier accessibility to books and written information, through library services open to all. Several collected examples about Agrigento, Palermo, Messina, Catania, Monreale show how both private and public libraries were renewing their collections and expanding the opportunities for collective use of books, documents and manuscripts.