Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli is one of Europe’s leading independent cultural and research institutions, specializing in the fields of history, politics, economics, and society. Founded in 1949 by the renowned Italian publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli (who also established the famous Feltrinelli publishing house and bookstores), it began as an institute and library dedicated to preserving and studying modern and contemporary socio-political thought. Over more than 70 years, it has evolved into a major center for documentation, research, and public engagement, focusing on contemporary transformations, inequalities, sustainability, democracy, and innovative societal models.
The foundation operates as a hybrid space: part research center, part archive and library, and part public venue for debate and events. It houses one of Italy’s most significant collections on left-wing, socialist, communist, and labor history, with over 200,000 volumes, periodicals, manuscripts, and documents spanning national and international contexts. The library is open to researchers, students, and the public (often requiring registration or booking via their platform), and it supports scholarly work through fellowships, publications, and digital resources.
Since December 2016, the foundation has been housed in its striking modern headquarters in the Porta Volta area at **Viale Pasubio 5, 20154 Milano**—a landmark building designed by the acclaimed Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron as part of the broader Porta Volta redevelopment. The sleek, transparent structure integrates seamlessly with the urban landscape, featuring open public spaces, a café, exhibition areas, and event halls. It’s designed to foster dialogue and accessibility, hosting conferences, seminars, book presentations, workshops, exhibitions, and cultural programs on pressing issues like climate justice, digital transformation, labor rights, and global inequalities.
The foundation promotes a forward-looking, interdisciplinary approach, producing research reports, policy papers, books (through its own imprint), podcasts, and multimedia content. It collaborates with universities, think tanks, NGOs, and international partners to explore solutions for a more equitable and sustainable future.
For more information, visit the official website at [fondazionefeltrinelli.it](https://fondazionefeltrinelli.it/) (with English sections available for key areas like “Who We Are,” research, and events). Follow on Instagram [@fondazionefeltrinelli](https://www.instagram.com/fondazionefeltrinelli) for visuals of the building, events, and ongoing projects, or check their Facebook and YouTube channels for live streams and talks.
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