The Riparbelli Archive and the Historical Memory of Capraia

An island, a story, an archive.
On May 3, 2025, in the charming setting of the Church of Sant’Antonio, a cultural project of great value for the island of Capraia officially begins: the construction of the first Historical Archive of the island, starting from the enhancement of the Fondo Riparbelli, recently recovered, ordered and cataloged.

The conference entitled “The Riparbelli Archive and the historical memory of Capraia”, organized and promoted by Coop Itinera and the Municipality of Capraia Isola, marks the conclusion of an important conservation intervention and represents a moment of strong sharing with the community and with all the institutional actors involved in the project. An opportunity to reflect on the value of historical memory, the need to preserve and make it accessible, and the central role that Capraia can play in the network of small archives of the Italian minor islands.

The Fondo Riparbelli, donated in 2020 by Lorenzo Riparbelli to the Municipality of Capraia, preserves the intellectual heritage of Professor Alberto Riparbelli: studies, correspondence, documents and precious materials linked to the island, to the demesne heritage and to the history of insular communities. Thanks to the funding of the PNRR – Borghi Fund, the fund has been the subject of a careful reorganization and description according to professional archival criteria, curated by Coop Itinera.

The meeting on May 3 will not only be a technical return of the work done, but also the public presentation of a broader path, aimed at creating a dynamic, open, participatory documentation center, that acts as a laboratory of active memory, capable of preserving the past and generating future, knowledge, sense of belonging.

The project is based on a solid institutional and scientific network. At the conference will be present:

• Municipality of Capraia Isola, promoter and winner of the PNRR grant
• Municipality of Livorno, which supported the transfer of the archive
• Region of Tuscany, always sensitive to the enhancement of local heritage
• Superintendence of Archives and Bibliography of Tuscany
• University of Pisa During the day there will be institutional interventions, technical contributions, testimonies, and moments of discussion with the public. A documentary video dedicated to the figure of Alberto Riparbelli and his connection with the island will also be projected.

The Riparbelli Archive is not just a destination, but the beginning of a journey.

A first step towards a future where local history becomes shared heritage, a generator of identity, knowledge, and opportunities for new generations.

For information and contacts:
Coop Itinera – segretaria@itinera.info
Municipality of Capraia Isola –