View source for Biblioteca di Ricerca Area Umanistica (University of Naples Federico II)

{{Short description|University library in Milan, Italy}}
{{Infobox library
| library_name = Biblioteca di Ricerca Area Umanistica (BRAU)
| library_logo =
| country = Italy
| established = 1564
| location = Milan
| coordinates = {{coord|display=title,inline}}
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| req_to_access = depends on library
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| website = [http://www.brau.unina.it/ BRAU. Biblioteca di Ricerca Area Umanistica]
}}
[[File:Palazzo_Monache2.jpg|thumb|Exterior of the library]]
'''Biblioteca di Ricerca Area Umanistica''' ('''BRAU''') is the university library of the Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici of the [[University of Naples Federico II]].
It was established in 2009 but Neapolitan [[Baroque]] building dates back to 1564, designed by [[Paola Cappellani]].
It is located in Piazza Bellini in the [[Historic Centre of Naples|historic city-centre of Naples]], Italy.
==History==
The building, whose name is ''Sant'Antoniello a Port'Alba'' was founded as a convent in 1564 by sister Paola Cappellani. The monastery was expanded by annexing the neighbouring palazzo of the Principi di Conca  – this closed off the original facade from public access, although the remains of the original doorway are still visible.
The present 18th-century facade was built at the same time as the building's large two-ramp staircase. After a recent restoration, the building was purchased by the [[University of Naples Federico II]]. Since January 26, 2009, it became the location for BRAU, the humanities research library of the university.
==Interior architecture and decoration==
[[File:ChiostroMonacheaPortAlba.jpg|thumb|upright|Library gardens]]
The architecture and interior decoration of the library follow the {{ill|Barocco napoletano|it|lt=Neapolitan Baroque}} style, especially thanks to the stucco works completed by [[Arcangelo Guglielmelli]] to restore the church in 1684. The altar is marble, with inset pearl. For a while, the main altar's painting was [[Bernardo Cavallino]]'s ''Santa Cecilia in estasi'' but, after several controversies, the work was moved to the [[Museo di Capodimonte]].
On the side altars, there are more canvas paintings like ''San Giuseppe'' by {{ill|Antonio Sarnelli|it}} and [[Ferdinando Castiglia]]'s ''San Filippo Benizi''. The ceiling depicts a painting of [[Anthony of Padua|Saint Anthony]], completed in the 1700s by an unknown [[Mannerist]]. There is also a wooden statue of [[Saint Michael Archangel]] from the 18th century.
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last1=Regina |first1=Vincenzo |title=Le chiese di Napoli. Viaggio indimenticabile attraverso la storia artistica, architettonica, letteraria, civile e spirituale della Napoli sacra |date=2004 |publisher=Newton e Compton |location=Naples |language=it}}
==External links==
* [http://www.brau.unina.it/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212145456/http://www.brau.unina.it/ |date=2023-02-12 }}
{{commonscat|Sant'Antoniello a Port'Alba}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:University of Naples Federico II]]
[[Category:Academic libraries in Italy]]
[[Category:Libraries established in 2009]]