ABSTRACT
In 1599, Girolamo da Sommaia, a member of a wealthy Florentine family, moved to Salamanca to study at its prestigious university. He brought several books with him from Florence, which he began to circulate by lending them or having them copied. During his time in Spain, Sommaia continually added to his library by purchasing new books in Salamanca. Eight years later, after completing his law studies, he returned to Florence, bringing back several Spanish and Portuguese manuscripts and books (lyrical and literary prose, proverbs and notes on language, and historical and political writings). This contribution looks at how Sommaia built up his library and his activity as a passionate reader, collector, and disseminator of books and manuscripts. The primary source is his diary, in which he kept a record of his readings, the books he copied, the volumes he lent out, as well as his meetings, cultural interests, and the people with whom he corresponded.
