1. About the APD School
The School of Archival, Palaeography and Diplomatic Studies (APD) of the Cagliari State Archives is an advanced training service rooted in the tradition of the schools attached to the Italian State Archives. Its purpose is to pass on specialist skills in the study, interpretation, and management of documentary sources, training qualified professionals in the archival and historical disciplines. The School is one of the ways in which the Archive carries out its educational and scientific mission, contributing to the training of scholars, professionals, and cultural heritage workers.
2. Service value
The APD School is not just an educational programme, but an institutional centre of expertise closely connected to the documentary heritage preserved by the Cagliari State Archives. Through the teaching of archival science, paleography, and diplomatic studies, the School provides essential theoretical and practical tools for:
- understanding the nature of historical sources
- interpreting documents correctly
- placing documentary production in its historical and institutional context
In this sense, training is based on direct engagement with the sources, combining scientific rigour with hands-on experience of the original heritage.
3. Intended audience
The School forms part of the national system of State Archives and shares its public mission. It is intended for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of archival studies in a structured way (either for research purposes or in preparation for future professional work in the cultural heritage sector). The presence of the School strengthens the Archive’s role not only as a place of preservation, but also as a centre for the production, transmission, and reinterpretation of historical knowledge.