The Accademia Filelfica was established in 1825, and its aim was to promote the study of letters, arts and sciences. It was the compendium of a rigorous literary movement which, from 1692 onwards, had slowly deteriorated with the passing of the years. In 1844 it included among its members Monardo Leopardi, father of Giacomo; Niccolò Tommaseo, philologist and lexicographer, author of the fundamental Dizionario della Lingua Italiana; Pietro Giordani, a writer who was a close friend of Giacomo Leopardi and had a long and interesting correspondence with him; the musicians Nicola Vaccai, Giuseppe Persiani, Livio Liviabella, Giuseppe Zonghi; Giovan Battista Carducci, architect, who was the author of the restructuring of the Basilica of San Nicola; lovers of arts and history such as Severino Servanzi Collio  and Zeffirino Re, and a great number of illustrious Italian scholars, members of other Academies of national renown. The only woman who was then part of the Accademia was the Florentine poetess Amelia Sarteschi Calani. The members gathered in some periods of the years in the town hall where, during the “tornate accademiche” (academic meetings), they made their literary writings or the results of their scientific research known to their fellows. The Association, which stopped its activity at the end of the century, was brought back to life in 1947, with the great “Mostra cittadina d’arte antica e moderna” (Exhibition of ancient and modern art). Among the works shown in this exhibition there were pieces of exceptional importance, which were at that time property of many families of Tolentino.

Since the Sixties, the Accademia Filelfica has worked to promote cultural initiatives of general interest for most of the people of Tolentino, such as the institution of the theatrical season, the musical season and the film season. It has co-operated in several ways to the restoration works of the Vaccai Theatre and has organised manifold exhibitions to enhance the value of local artisan arts, as well as one-man shows of a great number of artists. The Accademia has collaborated to the organisation of all the editions of the International Biennial Exhibition of Humour in Art, and has founded the Marches Philharmonic Orchestra, assisting and helping it until it has reached its full autonomy.

The Accademia Filelfica has co-operated with the various local governments to the organisation of numerous cultural activities of the town, such as the congresses concerning “Tolentino nel tardo Cinquecento”, “Francesco Filelfo e l’Umanesimo” and “Tolentino nel ‘400” and the exhibitions “1992-1994: Due anni di scoperte e restauri”; “Manifesti, avvisi e stampe negli anni del Trattato di Tolentino” (1996); “Tolentino e le Marche. Dalla Pace del 1797 alla Battaglia del 1815” (1998); “Francesco Filelfo e l’Umanesimo” (1998).

As far as publishing initiatives are concerned, it has edit several publications; among them worthy of mention are “Tolentino. Guida all’arte e alla storia” (a guide to the art and history of Tolentino) and “Quaderni del Bicentenario” (a review of historical research on the period of Tolentino Treaty) of which four issues have been published.
The Accademia Filelfica publishes on its own “QRS. Quaderni di Ricerca Storica”, a review of letters, arts and history.

The Accademia Filelfica di Scienze Lettere ed Arti “has, as its aim, to encourage the cultural formation and development of its members, promoting studies and research concerning Tolentino and its territory” (Statute, art. 3). To the Accademia are admitted all people, from Tolentino or not, who are interesting in studying and preserving the historical and artistic wealth of the city, independently from their age or education. The Accademia organises for its members guided tours to Italian sites of particular historical and cultural importance, study meetings and many other activities, suitably planned on suggestion of the members themselves.

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