Given the Vatican’s age. The Age of the city of the Rome in General. And the numerous links to both the Italian nobility who made up the majority of the upper church echelons for centuries as well as the numerous links to occult groups and knowledge present in Rome.
I’d say there’s probably several at secret Libraries at minimum. Probably more.
Likely including ones long forgotten by everyone. Given the history of the feuding Catholic clergy and Italian politics in general. Probably fairly likely there’s a few hidden libraries in Rome where everyone who knew how to access them was killed.
Either in internal purges, from Disease, or any of the numerous power struggles and regional conflicts occurring in Italy at any one time
Probably more then we could imagine. The Vatican is only one location. But there’s many locations and groups all over the World one could suspect of maintaining secret archives.
Many of the Buddhist groups in Nepal and Tibet for instance are just as old if not older then the Catholic Church. The odds of them having a secret archive perhaps tucked back in an out of the way Temple in an almost forgotten mountain valley are pretty high.
Many of the European Knightly orders are also suspected of maintaining their own secretive archives and records.
The various Royal Houses of Europe also likely have theirs.
As did likely many of the Ancient Groups, and Guilds who dealt in esoteric and borderline heretical knowledge. Such as the Alchemists for instance.
Some of the contents of those rumored libraries particularly in Europe likely were condensed into larger collections as various Cities and Castles were sacked, the balance of power shifted, and families died out.
Given the Vatican’s age. The Age of the city of the Rome in General. And the numerous links to both the Italian nobility who made up the majority of the upper church echelons for centuries as well as the numerous links to occult groups and knowledge present in Rome.
I’d say there’s probably several at secret Libraries at minimum. Probably more.
Likely including ones long forgotten by everyone. Given the history of the feuding Catholic clergy and Italian politics in general. Probably fairly likely there’s a few hidden libraries in Rome where everyone who knew how to access them was killed.
Either in internal purges, from Disease, or any of the numerous power struggles and regional conflicts occurring in Italy at any one time
Hell I have places in my own house that I've forgotten how to access.
Probably more then we could imagine. The Vatican is only one location. But there’s many locations and groups all over the World one could suspect of maintaining secret archives.
Many of the Buddhist groups in Nepal and Tibet for instance are just as old if not older then the Catholic Church. The odds of them having a secret archive perhaps tucked back in an out of the way Temple in an almost forgotten mountain valley are pretty high.
Many of the European Knightly orders are also suspected of maintaining their own secretive archives and records.
The various Royal Houses of Europe also likely have theirs.
As did likely many of the Ancient Groups, and Guilds who dealt in esoteric and borderline heretical knowledge. Such as the Alchemists for instance.
Some of the contents of those rumored libraries particularly in Europe likely were condensed into larger collections as various Cities and Castles were sacked, the balance of power shifted, and families died out.