A precious piece of Italian history is finally back where it belongs. A letter written by Alfonso I d’Este to the poet Ludovico Ariosto has officially returned to the State Archives in Massa. This historical document had been missing for years after being illegally removed from the country’s national heritage.
The letter eventually surfaced across the ocean at the Morgan Library in New York. Thanks to successful recovery efforts, the manuscript has been repatriated, ensuring it is once again safe within Italy’s public archives. It’s a wonderful win for cultural preservation, returning a tangible connection to the legendary life of Ariosto to its rightful home.