The "Istituto degli Innocenti" (Institutes of the Innocents) in Florence has been working for nearly six centuries on behalf of the family and the child. At the time when it was established, during the first half of the fifteenth century, it was the first institution in the known world devoted exclusively to child care.

Still today, the Institute is accommodated at Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, in the building of the historical Hospital designed and built by Filippo Brunelleschi, which turned it into a wonderful example of Renaissance architecture. With the passing of time, it has kept on being enriched by the contribution of famous artists. The history of the Institute is immense and, in addition to its complex artistic and monumental heritage, it develops over an age-old experience in caring for children. .

The commitment to the protection of children and their rights has never witnessed a stop, even though it was brought up to date in response to the evolution of culture and society. Suffice it to think that, while in the early 1960s it was still devoted exclusively to reception and care (it accommodated nearly 300 children in a state of abandonment), to-date the Istituto degli Innocenti is a center of services and diversified activities: a home for the reception of minors, a home sheltering pregnant women and mothers with children; a number of day nurseries and supplementary educational services; a center engaged in the documentation, research, analysis and training on matters related to children, adolescents, and families.

This transformation has taken place through a number of stages, including the enforcement of the special adoption law (1967), the law on the first few day nurseries (1971) and the reform of the family law (1975), which contributed to the identification of innovative solutions to shelter and care for the children that, at that time, were still institutionalized. It was a time that marked the beginning of the so-called de-institutionalization process (which has meant an opening to the outside world and a de-concentration). In the early 1980s, the average number of children being cared for and the average time of their stay in the Istituto degli Innocenti were already in keeping with standards that are deemed acceptable today.

Meanwhile, the Institute started experimenting and verifying the fundamental ideas that were later to lead to the reorganization of the project for a Home for pregnant women and mothers with children (1988) and a Home for Children (1989). This period was finalized by the opening of "Casa Le Rondini" (The Swallows Home) that was to accommodate pregnant women and mothers with children.

At the same time, the Institute saw to its renewal on two additional fronts, with the opening of its initial day nurseries (1971), and the setting up of a study center. The latter was to represent a center of excellence on issues related to infancy, thanks also to the decision taken by the Unicef IRC - backed up by the Italian Government - to locate within the "Spedale degli Innocenti" (Innocents Hospital) its international research center (1987). Then, it was the turn of the Tuscany Region that, with its laws nos. 45/90, 25/94 and, finally, 31/2000, invested on the Institute for the development of documentation and training activities supporting the social and educational policies addressing children and families.

This role was strengthened and extended even further when the Italian Government decided to entrust the Institute with the activities of the National Center of Documentation and Analysis on Childhood and Adolescence,set up in pursuance of law no. 451/97, which also saw to the implementation and promotion of law no. 285/97. Since then, the Institute has been recognized as the national and European reference framework for the promotion of the culture of the rights of the child.

The Institute remains a public corporation, and its current set up provides for a Board of Directors appointed by the Tuscan Region, the Province and the Municipality of Florence, which proceeds to the appointment of a Chairperson.