The current library was formed chiefly in the early years of this century on the basis of the Enzo Carli Collection which that celebrated Sienese and Pisan art historian’s children donated to the Opera della Metropolitana in September 2000. The body of the collection consists in specialist works on the history of Siena and its Cathedral and on Sienese art, in particular of the medieval and Gothic periods, as well as a considerable number of monographs on artists of the most recent avant-garde movements and a large selection of texts on art criticism and on iconography. The collection comprises some 12,000 titles and is complemented by a photographic library containing roughly 11,000 black-and-white prints depicting works of art from many different areas and eras.

In its determination to maximise its documentary collections’ potential and to promote the public’s acquaintaince with them, the Opera della Metropolitana has subscribed to the Servizio Bibliotecario Senese (SBS), the Sienese Library Service: consult the catalogue here

The Opera della Metropolitana’s collection of photographs relating to the works of art in its ownership consists chiefly in black-and-white or colour photographs on paper. The collection also includes a digital image section.