Founded on August 1st, 1761, by Filippo di Borbone, Duke of Parma, the Biblioteca Palatina was established to provide the duchy with a cultural institution for public benefit, following the transfer of the Farnese collection to Naples.
The project was entrusted to Paolo Maria Paciaudi, who curated the immense book heritage and the innovative subject-based organization within the Palazzo della Pilotta, housed in shelving units designed by Ennemond Alexandre Petitot.
Officially inaugurated in 1769, the library grew under the guidance of illustrious librarians such as Paciaudi himself and Ireneo Affò, progressively expanding into the monumental spaces of the Galleria Petitot and the Galleria dell'Incoronata.