Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Old Town Hall Bank Museum And Exhibit Hall
The Old Town Hall Bank Museum and Exhibit Hall
Der Mensch bezwingt den Kosmos (The Potsdam Mosaic)
De Tijdtrap
Qadian rooftop, Minaratul Masih, and Masjid Mubarak.
Aqsa Mosque
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Solo travel can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but it also often leads to the greatest adventures.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
about 10 hours ago
Museum of Friends
The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free
about 11 hours ago
Grasshopper Chapel and grounds.
How the Rocky Mountain Locust Plague Spawned Federal Disaster Relief
1 day ago
The Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo in Everglades National Park.
America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds
1 day ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Puebla Biblioteca Palafoxiana

Biblioteca Palafoxiana

The first public library in the Americas has more than 45,000 books dating back to the 15th century.

Puebla, Mexico

Added By
A H
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Inside the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.   aljuarez/cc by 2.0
Inside the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.   aljuarez/cc by 2.0
The entrance.   P.Fossas/cc by-sa 3.0
Inside the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.   Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones/cc by-sa 2.0
Inside the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.   ProtoplasmaKid/cc by-sa 4.0
Exterior tiled walls and iron balconies of the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.   Marioli925/cc by-sa 3.0
Book’s wheel   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Biblioteca Palafoxiana   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Virgen de Trapani at Biblioteca Palafoxiana   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Stairs of Biblioteca Palafoxiana   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Biblioteca Palafoxiana, the first public library of the Americas, was founded in 1646 by bishop Juan de Palafox. He donated 5,000 of his own books to the Catholic seminary he had recently created in Puebla, Mexico. In his donation certificate, Palafox stated he wanted there to be a public library where all kinds of people, not only clergy, could devote themselves to the study of liberal arts and science.

In 1773, bishop Francisco Fabián y Fuero had the library remodeled, so that it could hold a growing collection of books and manuscripts. These tomes covered everything worth studying at that time, including classical and indigenous languages, philosophy, theology, canon law, geography, astronomy, natural science, medicine, and physics.

The Biblioteca Palafoxiana is now a book museum as well as a research library with more than 45,000 books that are kept in lavish baroque bookshelves under an arch vaulted ceiling. The library owns nine incunables (books printed in Europe before 1500) and eight of Mexico’s earliest printed books, from the 16th century. Some of its oldest, rarest, and most valuable volumes include The Nuremberg Chronicle, printed in Nuremberg in 1493; Andreas Vesalius' De humani corporis fabrica, printed in Basel in 1543; and two different editions of the Malleus Maleficarum, from 1596 and 1669.

Related Tags

Libraries Books Museums Medieval Repositories Of Knowledge

Know Before You Go

The Biblioteca Palafoxiana is located on the top floor of the Casa de la Cultura in the Centro Histórico of Puebla city. It's open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The admission fee is 40 pesos (about $2 USD) for adults, with discounts for children, students, and teachers, and free entrance on Tuesdays.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Oaxaca: Markets, Mezcal & Home-Cooked Meals

A Culinary and Cultural Journey Through Oaxaca.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Bibliophagus

Edited By

Mario Yair TS, Meg

  • Mario Yair TS
  • Meg

Published

September 9, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.wmf.org/project/palafoxiana-library
Biblioteca Palafoxiana
5 Av 5 Ote
Puebla
Mexico
19.042372, -98.198777
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

La Casa del que Mató al Animal

Puebla, Mexico

miles away

Amparo Museum

Puebla, Mexico

miles away

La Pasita

Puebla, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Puebla

Puebla

Mexico

Places 10

Nearby Places

La Casa del que Mató al Animal

Puebla, Mexico

miles away

Amparo Museum

Puebla, Mexico

miles away

La Pasita

Puebla, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Puebla

Puebla

Mexico

Places 10

Related Places

  • The Matenadaran and statue of Mesrop Mashtots.

    Yerevan, Armenia

    The Matenadaran

    This medieval manuscript collection has some of the most obscure and ancient texts in the world.

  • Sculptures on a pillar in the Baroque library at Metten Abbey.

    Metten, Germany

    Baroque Library of Metten Abbey

    This 8th-century Bavarian monastery is home to an exquisite Baroque-era library.

  • Medieval bestiary manuscript showing a werewolf.

    London, England

    British Library Treasures Gallery

    The library houses an incredible collection of some of the world's most impressive books and manuscripts.

  • Cuypers Library

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Cuypers Library

    This gorgeous reading room houses the oldest and largest art history library in the Netherlands.

  • Shelves at the Brautigan Library

    Vancouver, Washington

    The Brautigan Library

    A library of only unpublished manuscripts.

  • Kadokawa Musashino Museum

    Tokorozawa, Japan

    Kadokawa Musashino Museum

    This airy five-floor library and museum houses thousands of books and rotating exhibits on Japanese monsters and anime.

  • Jane Austen’s name is emblazoned at the top of the telephone box.

    Steventon, England

    Jane Austen's Telephone Box

    The world's smallest Austen museum is inside an unassuming phone booth.

  • Herndon Fortnightly Club

    Herndon, Virginia

    Herndon Fortnightly Club

    In 1889, a small group of women began meeting to discuss literature, art, and other topics. Their every-other-week salon grew into a lending library that still exists today.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.