Malcanton Marcorà Palace – Material Characterization Laboratory & BAUM Library
A research and teaching facility housing advanced scientific analysis of cultural heritage alongside a major humanities library, serving researchers and students across philosophy, art history, archaeology and classical studies.
At a glance
The Malcanton Marcorà Palace integrates two complementary institutional functions: the Material Characterization Laboratory of the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, which conducts scientific investigation of historical and archaeological materials, and the BAUM (Humanistic Area Library), one of the Veneto’s largest humanities collections with over 300,000 volumes.
History
The BAUM library was established in 2006 through a merger of five departmental collections from Art, Archaeology and Classical Studies, Philosophy, Italian, and History. Subsequent acquisitions incorporated materials from the social services programme and the School of Specialization for Secondary School Teachers (SSIS). The material characterization laboratory has developed in parallel to support research across the humanities and conservation fields.
What you see
The building’s four-floor library system arranges materials by function and discipline. Ground-floor reading rooms hold reference works and classical texts. The first basement contains open-shelf bibliographic material organized by Dewey decimal classification, plus textbook collections. The second basement houses specialized archaeology and classical studies materials, periodical archives, and rare book collections. The laboratory occupies dedicated research space equipped for non-invasive analytical work on archaeological finds, artworks, and environmental samples.
Cultural significance
The facility represents contemporary approaches to heritage study: combining laboratory science with traditional humanities scholarship. The library’s 1,200+ current periodical titles and rare materials support interdisciplinary research across philosophy, literature, philology, social sciences and education. The material characterization laboratory applies advanced diagnostic techniques to preserve and understand cultural artefacts without damage—a critical practice for institutional conservation and archaeological investigation.
Key facts
- Address: Calle Ragusei, 3490/D, 30123 Venezia
- Coordinates: 45.43464810186447, 12.322116494178772
- Phone: 041 234 5613
- Website: http://www.unive.it/pag/16024/
- Library collection: Over 300,000 volumes across humanities disciplines
- Periodicals: 1,200+ current titles
Practical information
Access to the library and laboratory facilities is available to university students, faculty, and researchers. The ground-floor periodicals room displays current magazine issues. Specialized materials in the basement levels may require advance notice. Contact the facility directly to confirm hours and arrange visits to the laboratory.
Getting there
The palace is located in the Dorsoduro district of Venice, accessible from the San Trovaso vaporetto stop. Pedestrian access leads through Calle Ragusei in central Venice.
Sources & resources
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