The Chetham's Library

If you, like me, loved and imagined seeing on the big screen the magical world created by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter's books, and have in one way or another dreamt of receiving Hogwarts invitation letter to be able to discover that school beauty.
You can not avoid to, sooner or later, visit to Chetham's Library in Manchester.
Located in Long Millgate, M3 1SB, it is easy to reach if you head north, leaving Manchester Cathedral on your left.
The Chetham's Library is located within a complex used as a conservatory, which, in itself, is already amazing as it reflects perfectly our very Italian ideal of English campus.

The entrance, being a school, is not open to everyone, passed the gate you find your road closed by a turnstile and a bar, on the right is the outbuilding of an employee whom you can ask to visit the library.
At that point I was handed a sticker that I had to apply on my coat and a girl had been called through a walkie talkie.

My boyfriend and I passed through the turnstile and then met and got escorted through the courtyard of the complex by the girl who takes care of the building's visits, obviously in love with her job since she described us the library as one of the true jewels of Manchester.
The entry in this almost sacred place is free, although an offer of £3 is recommended.
I had the fortune make my visit when this place was empty, which made it even more magical.
Among the corridors of old wood and shelves crammed with ancient books I realized I was inside a monument to culture.
This, actually, is the oldest library in England, dated back to 1653 and its interiors contain books of great value, including manuscripts.

Despite not being a huge site to visit, in fact it takes just 10 minutes to see it all, the inside makes you feel as if you were backpacking through the forbidden section of Hogwarts' library. 
It's worth it, if you live in Manchester, if you come here thanks to a journey of pleasure, study or work to visit to Chetham's Library. And if you won't come to Manchester, why not take a look at the official website of the library that is: http://www.chethams.org.uk
So you'll be able to appreciate, like me, that in this modern England, a bit of magic, if you know where to look for it, is still findable.