Il secolo dei trovatelli e il brefotrofio di Osimo. Un modello di istituto assistenziale tra fede e diplomazia nelle Marche dell'Ottocento.

This essay aims to reconstruct the history of a charitable institution for abandoned children created in the city of Osimo, in the region Marche, during the XIXth century. Particularly, it analyses the process and the preliminary debate for the opening of a ‘brefotrofio’ in the city, strongly desired by the cardinal bishop Giovanni Antonio Benvenuti, who was an example of welfare and diplomatic commitment. His episcopal work was intertwined with several politics events, such as the insurrections of 1830-1831, after which he was completely repudiated by the Roman Curia, also due to his bond with Carbonari movement’s, Freemasonry’s and Napoleonic exponents. In the specific instance, is reported the Leopoldo Armaroli’s contribution in the writing of the regulation for the ‘brefotrofio’, as an expert on the foundlings’ phenomenon.