Some words about the Institute

The Institute was founded in 1955 in Sassoferrato on the initiative of father Stefano Troiani, with the cooperation of Tullio Colsalvatico, Albertino Castellucci and Roberto Massi. Its objective was to spread the knowledge of the contribution given by the Marches to the civilization and to emphasize the artistic, economic and tourist aspects of the Region.
Scholars of great renown from 24 countries joined the Institute, which received from the very beginning an international mark.
The Institute's conception is based on the awareness that civilization is a vital element of our time and it is the logical development of a tradition constantly operating, the aim being to identify the contribution given by the Marches in all times through different cohabitation aspects of its people, the foundation and progress of the Mediterranean civilization in ancient times and more recently of its expansion worldwide, its evolution as an institutional element of the universal humanism.
The first Congress took place in Sassoferrato from the 31st July through the 7th August 1955 on the subject " The civilization of the Picenum"
In the following congresses specific subjects were discussed such as "The olive tree genetics" "Leopardi in the world", "The juridical thought of Bartolo da Sassoferrato", "Folklore and Giovanni Crocioni", "The historical-artistic researches of GiulioVitaletti".

Activities
Congresses, Seminaries, Publications and Exhibitions

The Institute organizes every year since 1980 the International Congress of Humanistic Studies, attended by scholars of great renown coming from Universities and Institutes all over the world.
Our Institute works in collaboration with the University of Aix-en-Provence - where the Perotti Institute was founded - on the critical edition of the Niccolò Perotti's Cornu copiae, which is unanimously considered by the scholars as the greatest Encyclopedia of ancient times and an inexhaustible mine of the Graeco-Latin literary civilization.
The first Seminary of High Culture took place in 1990; its aim is to study in depth medieval and humanistic subjects.
The lectures are held by highly qualified university professors and the beneficiaries are young college graduates or students at the eve of their graduation , selected and reported by the professors attending the International Congress of Humanistic Studies, as being particularly interested in the subjects proposed at each Congress.



Sassoferrato

Sassoferrato lies nearby the ancient Umbrian-Roman town Sentinum. Important remnants, city wall, paved roads, mosaic flooring, granite columns and many other finds can be admired not only in the local archeological Museum., but also in the archeological Museums of Ancona and of Munich in Bavaria.
In year 295 B.C. took place a famous battle giving the Romans the victory over the Gallic-Sannite league; the roman consul Decio Mure died on the battlefield.
In year 41 B.C. the town was burnt by the legions of Octavian; it was rebuilt and it is quoted among the Municipalities; it was destroyed again by Desiderio in year 773 a.D.
The Castle was built on a hill nearby, mentioned in documents of the beginning of the XI century. It belonged to the Este dinasty from year 1208 a. D., then to the Malatesta (1349-1391) and finally to the local family of Atti.
In 1460, after the tyrant Luigi degli Atti was murdered, Sassoferrato became a free Municipality under the influence of the Roman Church.


Famous personalities
Bartolo da Sassoferrato ("Lucerna Juris", 1313-1359), the cardinal Alessandro Oliva (1407 - 1463), the humanist Niccolò Perotti (1430 - 1480), the captain Antonio Perotti (named the Paladin of Italy by Alessandro Farnese - 1535-1582), Pietro Paolo Agapiti (painter and architect, 1470 - 1540), the man of letters Pandolfo Collenuccio (1444 - 1504), Giovan Battista Salvi ("the Sassoferrato", 1609 - 1685), the poet Baldassarre Olimpo degli Alessandri (1480? - 1540?), Lorenzo Parigini (bishop of Urbania and Sant'Angelo in Vado, 1779 - 1848), the man of letters Guido Vitaletti (1866 - 1936), Alberico Pagnani (historian, 1881 - 1979), Giuseppe Franciolini (bishop of Cortona, 1891 - 1989), Emilio Pettinelli (composer, 1896 - 1980), father Antonio Lisandrini (1909-1985).

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