National Association for the Interests of Southern Italy

The Associazione nazionale per gli interessi del Mezzogiorno d'Italia (ANIMI) is an Italian association founded in 1910 by Leopoldo Franchetti and Giustino Fortunato to defend the social rights of the regions of Southern Italy. Its headquarters are located at Piazza Paganica in the historic center of Rome. Pasquale Villari was appointed president at its founding; after his death, Fortunato took the honorary presidency, which he held until his own death. As early as 1911, the association was recognized as a legal entity and succeeded in involving the leading representatives of the meridionalist movement, including Gaetano Salvemini, Benedetto Croce, Lucio Lombardo Radice, Umberto Zanotti Bianco, Francesco Compagna, Rosario Romeo, Manlio Rossi Doria, and Michele Cifarelli. ANIMI is best known for its commitment to fighting illiteracy in Southern Italy. It was responsible for the founding of more than 1,500 schools for children and illiterate adults, including evening, daytime, and holiday schools, creating a lasting place in the history of popular education in Italy. Notable initiatives included a day school in Spropolo di Palizzi Marina (RC) in 1924, the inauguration of new premises for a seaside colony in Acireale (CT) in 1923, and the inauguration of the Nor Arax village in Bari in 1926, with Umberto Zanotti Bianco and Hrand Nazariantz present. After the Second World War, the association concentrated its activities on cultural matters. Since 1931, ANIMI has published the journal Archivio storico per la Calabria e la Lucania. It is also responsible, for the publisher Rubbettino, for the Collezione di Studi Meridionali (Collection of Southern Studies), begun by Umberto Zanotti Bianco. The association remains active, organizing conferences and publications, such as the 2026 study conference "Il Mezzogiorno nella storia della Repubblica" with SVIMEZ and Sapienza University of Rome, and events commemorating the centenary of Zanotti Bianco's work. Its official website is www.animi.it.

The Associazione nazionale per gli interessi del Mezzogiorno d'Italia (ANIMI) was founded in 1910 by Leopoldo Franchetti and Giustino Fortunato, with the aim of defending the social rights of the regions of Southern Italy. Pasquale Villari was appointed president at its founding. After Villari's death, Fortunato assumed the honorary presidency, which he held until his death. In 1911, the association was recognized as a legal entity and succeeded in involving all the main representatives who paid great attention to the Southern Question, such as Gaetano Salvemini, Benedetto Croce, Lucio Lombardo Radice, Umberto Zanotti Bianco, Francesco Compagna, Rosario Romeo, Manlio Rossi Doria, and Michele Cifarelli. The association engaged in the fight against illiteracy and was responsible for the founding of more than 1,500 schools for children and illiterate adults, including evening, daytime, and holiday schools. Notable early initiatives included a day school in Spropolo di Palizzi Marina (RC) in 1924, the inauguration of new premises for a seaside colony in Acireale (CT) in 1923, and the inauguration of the Nor Arax village in Bari in 1926, with Umberto Zanotti Bianco and Hrand Nazariantz present. These efforts created a lasting place in the history of popular education in Italy. After the Second World War, the association concentrated its activities on cultural matters. Since 1931, it has published the journal Archivio storico per la Calabria e la Lucania. It is also responsible, for the publisher Rubbettino, for the Collezione di Studi Meridionali (Collection of Southern Studies), begun by Umberto Zanotti Bianco. The association remains active in the 21st century, organizing conferences and publications, such as the 2026 study conference "Il Mezzogiorno nella storia della Repubblica" with SVIMEZ and Sapienza University of Rome, and events commemorating the centenary of Zanotti Bianco's work. Its headquarters are located at Piazza Paganica in the historic center of Rome.

• 2026

  Study conference "Il Mezzogiorno nella storia della Repubblica" organized with SVIMEZ and Sapienza University of Rome.

• 2000

  Publication of 'Per una storia dell'Associazione nazionale per gli interessi del Mezzogiorno d'Italia (1910-2000)' by P. Lacaita.

• 1931

  Started publishing the journal Archivio storico per la Calabria e la Lucania.

• 1926

  Inauguration of the Nor Arax village in Bari, with Umberto Zanotti Bianco and Hrand Nazariantz present.

• 1924

  Day school established in Spropolo di Palizzi Marina (RC).

• 1923

  Inauguration of new premises for the seaside colony in Acireale (CT).

• 1911

  Recognized as a legal entity.

• 1910

  Association founded by Leopoldo Franchetti and Giustino Fortunato; Pasquale Villari appointed president.

A historic Italian association dedicated to the social and cultural development of Southern Italy, known for its educational initiatives and cultural publications.

• Archivio storico per la Calabria e la Lucania

• Collezione di Studi Meridionali

1. 1ANIMI official websiteanimi.it
2. 2Wikidata entrywikidata.org
3. 3French Wikipedia articlefr.wikipedia.org