palazzo migliorati and academy of euteleti

PALAZZO MIGLIORATI AND ACADEMY OF EUTELETI

Most Academies develops in the '600 in the cities in which flourished a vibrant cultural life. ThoughSanMiniatowasasmalltown,itshistory shows us that it had a "breeding ground" to facilitate the birth of the Academy Euteleti. It was founded in the first half of the seventeenth century under the name of "Academy of Trust" as an initiative of Bishop Alessandro Strozzi and gathered the intellectuals of the city. The Academy was reformed in 1748 throughtheworkofsomemembersofthe Bonaparte family,residents ofSanMiniato, and was given the name of "Academy of Reborn". In 1822 the '"Academy of Euteleti" was given its current name from the future bishop of San Miniato Torello Pierazzi. The Euteleti are men of good will who are pursuing a "successful conclusion." The Academy emblem is a horse racing victorious to the goal. The Academy doesn't deal with the study of the Italian language as La Crusca (Florence), but it is the oldest scientific and cultural institution in the city, it is also involved in promoting the area and the spreading of Tuscan culture beyond national borders as evidenced by its rich library and its archive. Its library contains very important archives thanks to the donations of members, in different centuries ,and in particular of the Roffia and Ansaldi families. Initially it also took care of the studies related to agricultural development, and in 1834 became the promoter of a "Typographical Society" and the establishment of an infantile school. Since 1984 the seat of Academy has been moved from the Bishop's Palace in the premises of Palazzo Migliorati, former residence of the Marquis Migliorati, built in the fourteenth centuryandrenovatedwiththe currentfaçade atthebeginningofthe seventeenthcentury. Of greathistorical interestis the FuneraryMaskplasterofNapoleonBonapartepreservedin theAcademypremises.Scientists ofthelast10yearsargue that,whenNapoleonwas dying

at St. Helena, was followed by two doctors, by the Corsican Antommarchi and English Francis Burton. As soon as he died, they made two plaster casts of his face, returned to Europe, and from these two casts were taken many copies both in bronze and in marble. The copy in chalk in the Academy of Euteleti has been of some interest to the experts because it is very much alike to Napoleon. Even today, the Academy is a landmark for the cultural life of the city, as it devotes most of its resources to the organization of exhibitions and scientific conferences, each year taking care of the publication of the "Bulletin ‘’of history, letters, science and arts.