The Rosselli Brothers' Cultural Circle (Circolo Fratelli Rosselli)

Historical background

In 1920, a group of young men, headed by Gaetano Salvemini, founded the Circolo di Cultura (Cultural Circle) in Florence. Among their number were the brothers Carlo and Nello Rosselli, Piero Calamandrei, Ernesto Rossi, and Alfredo and Nello Niccoli. The Cultural Circle was not associated with a particular political party, but rather an open forum in which its members might express their opinions as freely as they wished. It was frequented above all by the younger generation, and in its early days the Circle's small nucleus of regular members met once a week at the house of Alfredo Niccoli, a lawyer by profession.

In April 1923 the Circle became more organized and had its own premises at no. 27, Borgo Santi Apostoli. Thanks to the efforts of the Rosselli brothers, a well-stocked library was set up with a good selection of Italian and foreign periodicals. Among those responsible for the running of the Circle were Salvemini, the Rosselli brothers, Ernesto Rossi, Piero Jahier, Piero Calamandrei and Enrico Finzi.

The first phase of the Cultural Circle's activities came to an abrupt end in 1924 in the wave of Fascist violence which followed the murder of Giacomo Matteotti. The Circle had assumed a decidedly anti-fascist position, and on the 31st December 1924 its premises were broken into and the archives destroyed. The Circle was officially closed on the 5th January 1925 by order of the Prefecture. At this point a long battle against fascism began, with the young men of the Cultural Circle fighting in the front lines. Some of the more important events of this period were: the publication of the first clandestine antifascist newspaper, Non Mollare; the founding of the Movimento di Giustizia e Libertà (Justice and Liberty movement) by Carlo Rosselli, an early theorizer of liberal socialism; the murder of the Rosselli brothers on the 9th June 1937 at Bagnoles de l'Orne in France; and the founding of the Partito d'Azione (Action Party).

It was the Florentine Partito d'Azione, led by Tristano Codignola, that refounded the Cultural Circle after the Liberation of Italy in October 1944. The Circle became known as the Circolo di Cultura Politica Fratelli Rosselli (CFR - The Rosselli Brothers Cultural and Political Society). This marked the beginning of the second phase of the Circle's history, with Piero Calamandrei as its President. In more recent times, Giorgio Spini and Enzo Cheli have been Presidents of the CFR. The Circle has continued to be active ever since it was reformed, partly thanks to the periodical intakes of talented young men and women. Its wide-ranging activities have been of importance not only within the city of Florence and Tuscany, but also on a national and international level. Recently the Circolo Fratelli Rosselli Foundation was set up. Both it and the CFR itself are non-profit-making associations.

Aims

To study and debate subjects of interest to modern society in the domains of culture, politics, economics and sociology. The Circle organizes meetings, lectures, readings and debates on important issues in these fields.

Premises

The premises of the CFR are situated in Piazza della Libertà in Florence. Here, from beneath a portico, two semi-circular lunettes look out towards the city centre. The lunettes have become the symbol of a tradition of high moral values, a tradition always open to change and keen to foster improvements in civic and political life.

Publication

In 1981 publication began of a quarterly entitled Quaderni del Circolo Rosselli (QCR). The Quaderni cover the same sort of topics as are debated at the Circle's various meetings and events, and each issue deals with a particular thematic area. The QCR maintains a high standard, and since October 1995 it has been published by the publishers Giunti.

Activities

The CFR organizes meetings, debates and lectures on a wide range of current affairs, as indicated in the following sections.

Membership

All who would like to help in maintaining the ideals that the CFR stands for in the cultural, social and political life of our city and country are invited to apply for membership of the CFR. Once you are a member, you will be able to take part in the various activities organized by the CFR as well as making specific proposals of your own. We especially welcome applications from the younger generation, always a source of enthusiasm and new ideas, and to that end we have set up the Gruppo Giovani del CFR (CFR Young People's Section).

Application for Membership

EVENTS
Forthcoming
Future
Previous events: 1996-1997-1998 1999

The CFR Organizing Committee

Members, 1998

You can contact us at segreteria@circolorosselli.it

English pages translated by Stephen Coffey of the University of Pisa.