The main public library of the city is the Biblioteca Sormani (Corso di Porta Vittoria).

The Sormani library offers general and up-to-date coverge of all fields of human knowledge. It has particularly extensive holdings in the humanities, law and arts.

Opening hours: Monday–Saturday 9 a.m. – 7.30 p.m.

Info: 800-880066 (toll free number), 0288463397 (reception) – C.BiblioCentrale@comune.milano.it

Book consultation: C.BiblioCentraleLib@comune.milano.it

Journal consultation: C.BiblioCentralePer@comune.milano.it

Audiovisual consultation: C.BiblioCentraleAudiovisivi@comune.milano.it

Ambrosiana Library (Piazza Pio XI, 2). It is the oldest European library open to the public, with 35,000 manuscripts and autograph sketches by Leonardo.

Opening hours: Monday–Friday 9.30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tel. 02806921

Brera National Library (Via Brera 28). The national library in Palazzo Brera was founded by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in 1770 and contains at present one million books. Tel. 0286460907.