Francesco Salvestrini

Francesco Salvestrini is a Full Professor of Medieval History at the University of Florence, Department of History, Archaeology, Geography, Arts and Entertainment (SAGAS). He serves as President of the Master's Degree Program in Historical Sciences (LM 84) and is an elected member of the departmental board for two consecutive terms. He also participates in the doctoral board for Historical Studies at the Universities of Florence and Siena.

Salvestrini graduated in Medieval History from the University of Siena and earned his doctorate from the University of Florence. His academic career has been primarily with the University of Florence, though he has collaborated with numerous other Italian and international institutions including Siena, Bologna, Macerata, Cagliari, the Pontifical Gregorian University, the University of Lleida (Spain), the University of Kassel (Germany), and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul (South Korea), where he served as a visiting professor.

His research spans multiple interconnected fields of medieval studies, with particular emphasis on monastic institutions, especially Vallombrosan, Camaldolese, Cistercian, and Silvestrine traditions. He has produced significant scholarship on medieval communal statutes, examining their evolution, translation into vernacular languages, and printing history. His environmental history work explores the relationship between human communities and ecosystems, particularly focusing on river systems like the Arno and forest environments. His geographical focus remains centered on Tuscany and central Italy during the communal period, though his work extends to other regions including Sardinia and northern Italy.

His recent scholarly output reveals a consistent trajectory focusing on the intersection of religious institutions, legal frameworks, and environmental contexts in medieval Italy. A significant portion of his work addresses water management systems as reflected in communal legislation, demonstrating how medieval communities regulated shared resources. His publications on monasticism reveal deep expertise in Vallombrosan traditions while also exploring Augustinian hermits, Cistercian expansion, and Franciscan observance movements. The geographical scope of his research spans from Tuscany to Sardinia and northern Italy, reflecting a comprehensive approach to medieval Italian history.

Salvestrini maintains active scholarly engagement through membership on the scientific committees of prestigious historical journals including Revue Mabillon and Archivio Storico Italiano, among others. His editorial work includes serving as scientific director for the series "Abbazie e Ordini religiosi della Toscana" published by Olschki, and contributing to multiple scientific committees for historical publications.

As an educator, Salvestrini supervises graduate students and serves as President of the Master's Degree Program in Historical Sciences. His academic leadership extends to numerous institutional roles including membership on the departmental board and participation in various academic committees. His research collaborations with institutions like the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences in Rome and the Institute for the Valorization of Historic Abbeys of Tuscany demonstrate his standing within the scholarly community.

Salvestrini maintains active research collaborations with several important institutions including the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences in Rome, the Institute for the Valorization of Historic Abbeys of Toscana, and the European Research Center on Religious Congregations and Orders at the University of Saint-Etienne. His work with the Vallombrosan Benedictine Order on medieval and modern history, particularly regarding the relationship between monasticism and the natural environment, represents a significant ongoing research commitment. He also collaborates with territorial institutions and study centers on projects examining human settlements and ecosystems.