The Cicognini National Boarding School is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

primary and secondary school located in

Prato Prato ( ; ) is a city and municipality (''comune'') in Tuscany, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Prato. The city lies in the northeast of Tuscany, at an elevation of , at the foot of Monte Retaia (the last peak in the Calvana ch ...

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Established by the

Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

s in , the school is the oldest school in the city and follows the legacy of Francesco Cicognini.

Boarding school history

The Cicognini National Boarding School of Prato is the oldest educational institution in the city. Founded in 1692 by Jesuit priests, it was the center of culture in the

Grand Duchy of Tuscany The Grand Duchy of Tuscany (; ) was an Italian monarchy located in Central Italy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1860, replacing the Republic of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence. In the 19th century the population ...

, the

Kingdom of Italy The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...

, and the

Italian Republic Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Cicognini National Boarding School remains a cultural and training centre for Italy, with significant influence in Tuscany and the metropolitan area of Prato-Florence-Pistoia.

Interior

The school contains a theater dedicated to Gabriele D'Annunzio, with

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

es decorating the ceiling and stage. The school also houses the Chapel of the Boarders, with a

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

altar,

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...

, organ, and paintings. The school's

refectory A refectory (also frater, frater house, fratery) is a dining room, especially in monastery, monasteries, boarding schools and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduate seminary, seminaries. The name ...

is decorated by frescoes as well, and its reception room has a painting dedicated to Gabriele D'Annunzio.

Notable alumni

* Gabriele D'Annunzio, (1863–1938) – writer, poet, journalist, and political activist who attended the Cicognini National High School from 1874 to 1881 *

Sem Benelli Sem Benelli (August 10, 1877 – December 18, 1949) was an Italian playwright, essayist and librettist. He provided the texts for several noted Italian operas, including Italo Montemezzi's '' L'amore dei tre re'' and ''L'incantesimo'', and Umber ...

– writer and playwright * Giovanni Bertini *

Ranieri de' Calzabigi Ranieri de' Calzabigi (; 23 December 1714 – July 1795) was an Italian poet and librettist, most famous for his collaboration with the composer Christoph Willibald Gluck on his "reform" operas. Born in Livorno, Calzabigi spent the 1750s in Paris, ...

– poet and librettist *

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (; 9 December 1920 – 16 September 2016) was an Italian politician, statesman and banker who was the President of Italy from 1999 to 2006 and the Prime Minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994. A World War II veteran, C ...

– President of the Republic *

Girolamo Lagomarsini Girolamo Lagomarsini (30 September 169818 May 1773) was an Italian humanist and philologist. Born into a wealthy Genoese family in Spain, he studied classical literature in Arezzo and Rome. Later holding a chair at the Collegium Gregorianum he ...

, (1698–1773) – humanist and philologist *

Giovanni Lami Giovanni Lami (8 November 1697 – 6 February 1770) was an Italian jurist, church historian, and antiquarian. Early years and education He was born at Santa Croce sull'Arno (between Pisa and Florence) into a relatively affluent family; his pate ...

– jurist, historian, and antiquarian * Tommaso Landolfi – writer, translator and literary critic *

Curzio Malaparte Curzio Malaparte (; born Kurt Erich Suckert; 9 June 1898 – 19 July 1957) was an Italian writer, filmmaker, war correspondent and diplomat. Malaparte is best known outside Italy due to his works '' Kaputt'' (1944) and '' The Skin'' (1949). The ...

, (1898–1957) – journalist, dramatist, writer, and diplomat who was born in Prato *

Marcello Pera Marcello Pera (; born 28 January 1943) is an Italian philosopher and politician. He was the president of the Italian Senate from 2001 to 2006.

– Senate President *

Bettino Ricasoli Bettino Ricasoli, 1st Count of Brolio, 2nd Baron Ricasoli (; 9 March 180923 October 1880) was an Italian statesman. He was a central figure in the politics of Italy during and after the unification of Italy. He led the Moderate Party. Biograph ...

– statesman

Gallery

Image:Collegio Cicognini-Orologio piano terra corridoio.jpg, Clock in the interior Image:Collegio Cicognini-Palcoscenico.jpg, Theater Gabriele D'Annunzio Image:Collegio Cicognini-refettorio affresco 2.jpg, Fresco in the refectory Image:Collegio Cicognini-Cappella navata.jpg, Chapel Image:Collegio Cicognini-sala d'accoglienza 5.jpg, Reception room Image:Collegio Cicognini-all'ingresso.jpg, Francesco Cicognini, the founder

External links

{{Commons category, Collegio Cicognini Boarding schools in Italy Jesuit primary schools in Italy Schools in Tuscany 1692 establishments in Italy Educational institutions established in the 1690s Jesuit secondary schools in Italy

Boarding school history

Interior

Notable alumni

Gallery

See also

External links