On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the conference room of the Senate Building, theState Archives of Milan presented the second edition of ARCHImparo, the educational project dedicated to the knowledge and enhancement of its documentary heritage. The initiative, promoted with the support of the Territorial School Office of Milan and Metropolitan City, is aimed at primary and secondary schools of first and second grade and for the school year 2025-2026 introduces new paths dedicated to Civic Education. During the press conference, the updated catalog of free educational activities and workshops, designed to bring students closer to the history of the city of Milan through the direct study of the documents preserved in the Archives, was illustrated. The proposal is structured in accordance with the general and learning objectives indicated by the National Directions and the goals set for the development of key competencies for lifelong learning, in line with the Recommendations of the Council of the European Union.
Teaching in the Archives, as explained by the speakers, represents an opportunity to educate about archival cultural heritage, fostering knowledge of local history and its connection to broader historical processes. The proposed paths are intended to stimulate students’ historical consciousness, encouraging their critical capacity and awareness of the value of cultural heritage. The workshop activities also aim to promote active and lifelong learning, based on direct analysis of sources rather than just memorization of content. Educational visits, which are always free of charge, are preceded by a historical-artistic introduction dedicated to the Archive’s headquarters, the Senate Palace, and the institution’s role as a conservator of the state’s documentary heritage and a place for historical research. The workshops are curated by the Archives’ in-house staff, who accompany the classes on their journey of discovery of the sources. Interested teachers can book visits by writing to as-mi.didattica@cultura.gov.it.
For elementary school, the workshops offer an approach to the forms of writing in the past through direct observation of documents such as illuminated codices and seals. Boys and girls learn to recognize ancient alphabets and writing materials that have now disappeared, such as carbon paper and stamps, rediscovering the coats of arms of the Duchy of Milan and the main families of Lombardy. The experience combines traditional and multimedia tools, engaging the five senses and offering an integrated approach between historical knowledge and workshop practice. Secondary school students face the history of Milan within the Italian and European context, examining early medieval parchments, documents from the modern age and papers related to the Unification of Italy. Analysis of the sources provides an understanding of the main events that shaped the city and the cultural and political processes that defined its identity. At the end of the visit, the children participate in a short archival research activity conducted independently, with staff support.
For secondary schools, the offerings are expanded with paths that allow students to delve into more complex historical periods, from the Visconti-Sforza Duchy to world conflicts and the Shoah. Through original documents, students can study, among other topics, the spread of the plague of 1630, the rise of the Enlightenment and the birth of literary cafes. There is also a thematic path dedicated to historical and scientific content. One of the new features of this edition is the introduction of three paths dedicated to Civic Education. Starting from Article 9 of the Italian Constitution, they aim to raise students’ awareness of the protection of the national historical and artistic heritage, promoting an approach to active and conscious citizenship. The goal is to develop civic skills through interactive teaching methodologies that combine knowledge of constitutional principles with direct experience of the documents.
The press conference for the presentation was attended by the director of the State Archives of Milan, Stefano Leardi, the director of the Territorial School Office of Milan and Metropolitan City, Letizia Affatato, and Marianna Agostinacchio, archivist officer of the institute. During the previous school year, between November 2024 and May 2025, the ARCHImparo project involved 28 classes with a total of 570 students: 12 from elementary school, 6 from secondary schools, and 10 from secondary schools. In addition, the Archives welcomed 10 trainees from the Faculty of Education of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart as part of their academic training. The project is curated by Marianna Agostinacchio, Silvia Gatti, Sara Mazzola, Anna Vergottinie Francesca Zara.
Alongside the school activities, the State Archives of Milan also offers a free cultural initiative aimed at a younger audience. On Saturday, November 8, 2025, Adventure in the Archives will be held . Discovering a Past to Reconstruct, an interactive trail for children aged 6 to 11, linked to the documentary exhibition Fra tante rovine il futuro. The Rebirth of Milan after the Liberation. The exhibition traces, through photographs, maps and testimonies, the reconstruction of the city after World War II, recounting a community committed to recomposing its urban and civic fabric. During the activity, the young visitors will be accompanied by Guido, the “dino-archivist” symbol of the initiative, to discover the documents that testify to the rebirth of Milan. Between crossword puzzles, mazes and observation games, participants will be able to explore the archival materials in an age-appropriate itinerary. There will be two free guided tours for children, at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., which can be booked on Eventbrite, and one tour for adults at 3:30 p.m., also free and by reservation.
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| ARCHImparo 2025-2026: Milan State Archives opens to schools with new educational paths |
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