The State Archive of Rome is in the baroque heart of the eternal city, two steps away from Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, inside the monumental complex of Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, antique headquarters of Studium Urbis, the University of Rome founded by Pope Boniface VIII in 1303.
The Archive mainly conserves material produced by the central administrative and lawful bodies of the Papal State from the 15th century until 1870, when it ceased to exist with the annexation of Rome and Lazio to the Kingdom of Italy. The collection of the Apostolic Camera and of the old courts of law are part of this patrimony.
Instead, the documents related to the religious administration of the Church remained in the Vatican and today are part of the Archivio Segreto Vaticano (Secret Vatican Archive). The collection of nearly 20,000 parchments is remarkable, the oldest one dated to 883 AD.
Besides its substantial and important collection, the Archive is also worth visiting for its marvellous architecture, work of Francesco Borromini.
At the State Archive in Rome, there is also the Vatican School of Palaeography, Diplomatics and Archives Administration.
For more information:
www.archiviodistatoroma.beniculturali.it