Reading and Surveying Historical Documents on the Social and Economic History of Medieval and Modern Periods: The Salviati Archive in Pisa
Organizing Committee
Organized by the Scuola Normale Superiore, the Course is funded by the PNRR through the MERITA, the network for talent project*.
Date: 17 May - 22 May 2026
Location: Scuola Normale Superiore, Palazzo della Carovana, Pisa
Total hours: 30
Max participants: 12
Language: Italian and French
Application deadline: 15 April 2026
Admission requirements: PhD graduates or PhD students enrolled in Historical, Archival, Palaeographic, Diplomatic, or Art History Sciences
Target audience: PhD students, PhD graduated and young researchers
The Salviati Archive
The Salviati Archive, alongside the Datini Archive, is considered one of the most important economic archives in Tuscany. Since September 1984, it has been deposited at the School through the kind permission of the Salviati family.
The archive consists of over 6,000 documents spanning from the 12th to the 19th century, organized into the following sections:
- Diplomatic: approximately 600 documents dating from the 12th to the 18th century.
- Accounting and Estate Management Books: approximately 4,700 registers from the 14th to the 19th century.
- Miscellanea: over 298 files (filze) comprising folders, small registers, and unbound papers, divided between the Florentine branch (222 folders) and the Roman branch (76 folders).
- Maps: approximately 295 documents on parchment or paper related to land and building assets from the 16th to the 19th century.
During the second half of the 18th century, the archive underwent a process of organization and inventorying commissioned by Duke Averardo di Giovan Vincenzo Salviati, who entrusted the task to two anonymous scholars. During this time, the unbound papers (which would form the Miscellanea) were organized, and the documents in the Diplomatic section were calendared (regestati). An inventory of the commercial ledgers from the end of the 19th century also exists, which is almost certainly a transcription of an earlier finding aid.
In accordance with Law No. 2006 of 1939, the archive was declared of significant historical interest by the Archival Superintendency for Tuscany on October 10, 1949 (a declaration renewed on April 15, 1958).
The course
The course has the aim of promote awareness of the Salviati archive through analysis of the different types of documents it contains. The course consists of a series of lessons aimed at introducing participants to archival documents, studies and ongoing research.
Participants will present the activities carried out during the course.
Application procedure
Applicants must submit an application using the form no later than April 15, 2026 and attaching an up-to-date CV, with a short biographical note that presents the applicant’s study interests, a valid identity document and a motivational letter.
In case of login or access issues, please visit the official SNS portal. Once on the homepage, navigate to the dedicated section titled 'CORSI ALTA FORMAZIONE', where you will find the specific form required for submission.
Participation in the Course does not entail enrollment fees.
Admission to the course includes participation in the lectures, the educational material and accommodation on the days when the course takes place.
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