The building, dating back to the late 19th century, preserves its local stone façade, wrought-iron balconies, and windows adorned with stucco frames. Inside, the rooms have been restored while retaining the original terrazzo floors and coffered wooden ceilings. Walnut and cherry furnishings, selected from family furniture, provide visitors with an evocative 19th-century atmosphere.
At the heart of the library is a collection of more than ten thousand volumes, including first editions, manuscripts, and autographed letters by Luigi Russo, displayed in climate-controlled cases with controlled lighting. Multimedia digital stations allow access to a photographic archive and to recordings of lectures and conferences given by the critic in Italian universities, enabling direct interaction with Russo’s legacy.
A themed educational itinerary, signposted by panels and a smartphone application, guides visitors through the city landmarks linked to Russo’s life, from the school where he taught to the square dedicated to his memory. In the rear garden, designed in Art Nouveau style, there is a small bronze sculpture depicting the writer absorbed in reading, and a bench with a commemorative plaque invites readers to pause and reflect.
Literary events, poetry readings, and presentations of academic essays regularly enliven the spaces, while creative writing workshops and youth labs promote Russo’s figure as a model of civic and cultural commitment.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm