The humanist Antonio Ivani was born in Sarzana in 1430 where he started his studies lately finished at Narni, where Pietro Parentucelli was the Governor. He was, for several years, at the service of the Fregoso family, that owened the city of Sarzana till they made it over to Florence. Following the assignments the Fregoso had given to him, he went to different parts of Italy, particularly to Ferrara, Genoa, Rome and Florence. These journeys gave him the opportunity to be in contact with the most important men of letters and politicians of the time: Borso d’Este, Lawrence the Magnificent, Pope Niccolò V, Cardinal Filippo Calandrini, Marsilio Ficino.

The most important assignment he received was as Chancellor of Volterra for almost three years, during which his son Filippo was taken prisoner by the corsars. With many difficulties he managed to free him. Always following the Campofregoso he was the Vicar of the Corsica Isle, where, anyway, he remained for a short time.

Many times he had difficult relationships with his protectors, so that, around 1472, he came back to Sarzana where he started the negotations for the building of the Public Palace. He tried many times to realize his greatest dream: to enter in the Roman Curia and become an apostolic writer.

He died in 1482. He left an interesting collection of letters, the treatise De Fortuna and The Commentariolus De Bello Volterrano. Gerini says about him “ a very learned man, loved and appreciated by the most important men of letters of his time”.

NOTE: for futher information refer to the degree thesis of Dott. Stefania Nardi 1981-82 published by the Association Antonio Ivani.

From “Appunti per una storia di Sarzana” Ennio Callegari.