The Institute

History

The milestones of Istituto Luigi Sturzo can be summarised as follows.

On 17 June 1951, a group of friends of Luigi Sturzo, acting on his desire to create a cultural institution, approved the outline of a statute for a new foundation to be created in his name. The Istituto Luigi Sturzo was established as a non-profit organisation on 25 November 1951, through Decree no. 1408 issued by the President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi.

The purpose of the Institute, according to the intentions of its founder, was to work in different fields of learning, from sociology to historical research, law and economics, in order to help shape the new ruling classes in the wake of the lively debate that had unfolded in the immediate aftermath of the war, both between the parties and within Parliament, on the problems of Italy’s reconstruction and development.

What we do 

Today, the Institute has a rich documentary heritage related to political Catholicism preserved in the Archives (112 personal and party funds, 1.300 posters, 200,000 photographs, 1.450 audiovisual and 650 films) and in the Library (140,000 volumes and 600 magazines).

In recent years, the Institute has engaged in a process of deep renewal, carrying out numerous initiatives of promotion, elaboration and cultural production, with the aim of being in harmony with the radical transformations that characterize the major western democracies, maintaining its own historical and cultural identity.

An intense program of cultural activities in collaboration with public and private institutions national and international, for the wider dissemination of scientific activities and for the innovative dissemination of material and immaterial heritage, the public enlargement and virtual access to knowledge. In particular:

• Research activities in the field of historical, sociological, political, legal and economic sciences through conferences, conventions, seminars and debates;
• Training and didactic activities (formal and informal, in distance attendance) through courses, scholarships, workshops, seminars, addressed to students, new graduates, cultural operators, public and private officials;
• Cataloging and digitization of archival material and libraries;
• Exhibit activities, through documentary shows and film reviews;
• Publishing activity, through monographic and periodical publications;
• Innovative activities and services, through thematic itineraries, digital narrations, guided tours, educational workshops, multidisciplinary seminars, creation of Apps and E-books, which contribute to strengthening the cultural offer for a wider and more integrated enhancement and fruition of cultural heritage.

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