It has been said that the very best writers in the world learned their craft by reading the works of other great writers. After all, just as you could never truly learn a language without hearing it, it is impossible to know what good writing looks like without reading it. And what better place to read than a library full of books?

Not all libraries are created the same, though. Here are 11 incredible libraries that every writer should put on their “must-see” bucket lists!

Biblioteca Joanina – Coimbra, Portugal

This incredible baroque-style library is not just aesthetically pleasing. It also acts as home to a colony of bats. Apparently, the bats protect the library’s books by eating potentially harmful insects within the library.

Trinity College Library – Dublin, Ireland

This library comprises multiple buildings, including six at the Trinity College campus and other at the Trinity Centre in St James Hospital in Dublin. Construction on the oldest building, known as the Old Library, started in 1712. This library is home to the Book of Kells, a 9th-century gospel manuscript.

El Escorial Library – El Escorial, Spain

This gorgeous library dates back to the Spanish Renaissance. It features black and white marbled floors and a spectacular arched ceiling that is said to have been the inspiration for the Vatican library.

The City Library – Stuttgart, Germany

If you are a fan of modern architecture and clean lines, this is the library for you. The entire interior is done entirely in white, with the only touches of color coming from the books and the muted gray-blue furniture.

George Peabody Library – Baltimore, Maryland

This incredible library is known as the “cathedral of books.” The library, which houses a 300,000 volume book collection, boasts a spectacular five-tiered atrium with black and white marble floors, gold-lined columns, and beautiful cast-iron balconies.

The Raza Library – Rampur, India

Once part of the royal palace, this stunning library is now considered a protected monument under the rule of the Indian government. The library’s impressive collection includes 17,000 rare manuscripts, 205 hand-written palm leaves, and 5,000 miniature paintings.

The British Library – London, England

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is also the largest national library in the world, housing over 200 million items from around the world. Located next to the spectacular Kings Cross railway station, the library boasts a large variety of treasures, including hand-written song lyrics by The Beatles, Leonardo DaVinci’s notebook, and the Magna Carta.

Austrian National Library – Vienna, Austria

This remarkable baroque-style library originally opened in 1723 as a royal library. Its exquisite bookcases are surrounded by grandiose columns, beautiful frescoed ceilings, and checkered marble floors.

Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana – Venice, Italy

Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. However, few of them take the time to step into the magnificent Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. This beautiful Renaissance-style library is one of the oldest remaining libraries in Italy and houses one of the greatest collections of classical texts in the world.

Bilioteca Nacional do Brazil – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This impressive neo-classical library is the largest library in Latin America and the seventh-largest in the world. Its incredible collection includes over 9 million items and boasts an extensive collection of rare photos from as early as the 19^th century.

The Tianyi Pavilion Library – Ningbo City, China

This exquisite library is the epitome of beautiful Chinese architecture. The library, which is the oldest private library in the world, is home to 300,000 ancient books, including a number of wood-cut and handwritten titles.