Knowledge in the Stacks. Philosophy, religion and geography in Bonifacio's Library (1517-1597)

This volume explores the cultural relationships between Italy and Poland during the 16th century. The Senate Library of Gdańsk has been for centuries at the center of the Hanseatic city’s vibrant culture. The Library, established as a result of the large donation of books originally belonging to the Italian Marquess Bernardino Bonifacio d’Oria (1516-1597), gathers an unparalleled collection of volumes, stretching across different fields (literature, philosophy, theology, geography). Through the analysis of Bonifacio’s books and his handwritten notes, the author aims to reconstruct the idea of space, the perception of otherness, and the philosophical reflections of a 16th century reader.