Biography of Francis Settepassi shooting dlla journal of an association of malacology
Francesco Settepassi died in Rome Thursday, March 25, 1982, at the age of 96 years. Those who in the last years of his life have been lucky enough to be near him, remember him as a nice old man with a lucid mind, friendly to everybody and friend of youth. Walker and climber, having suffered a bad accident, it helps with a stick, but this did not prevent him from going in search of shells and along the seashore or in the mountains. She lived a life full of experiences and human remains primarily a free man. His interests are varied: a goldsmith in his youth, a scientist, a man of science, paleontologist, malacologo. The mark left by him will remain a living example for our generation and future generations.
Francesco Settepassi was born in Viareggio August 12th century and early and we find him a student in Pisa. And 'forced to interrupt his higher studies after his father's death in 1902, to advance the family's jewelry store. Since then, they started one of his active participation in social life of his beloved city of Viareggio: he founded the "Pro Viareggio" (now "Autonomous Riviera della Versilia"), is interested in the carnival events and the cultural and sports sectors of the city becoming patron of artists, organizing conferences, setting up the association cycle "Rapidus", promoting a regional gymnastics competition, a day aviation and forming angles with the other calcium Viareggio. In 1926 the club is in Viareggio philatelist.
Persecuted by the fascist regime, was forced to close its operation and to stop the publication of two journals "Alpe our" and "Viareggio summer" in the meantime had founded and printed at his own expense.
He moved to Rome in 1939, invited by Baron Carlo Alberto Blanc have, by these offered a place nell'lstituto of Human Paleontology, which Settepassi later became vice president. In the same year get together with Blanc, the skull of Neanderthal man in the cave at Circeo Guattari.
Since the child was born, also thanks to the illustrious malacologo Del Prete, a passion for finding shells, passion over the years, mainly develops and deepens the scientific and led him to attend Dautzenberg, Hesse, Monterosato, Tiberi, Piersanti Caziot and other scientists.
The high level of his work as a researcher and scientist has testified, as well as the publication of numerous articles and monographs and collaboration with over twenty journal "Quaternary", published by Blanc, including the request for advice and classifications of species from malacological part of the most famous museums of the world, as well as by the formation of a collection malacological among the most important of those existing today, especially as regards the Mediterranean shells.
Twenty-four cabinets, drawers, 528, 45,000 cans, about 50,000 species with almost 3,000,000 specimens, 2,500 volumes of malacology, some of which are rarities, is data that make your breath away. Settepassi is not yet satisfied before ending his days can give birth to the first two volumes of a monumental work, the malacological atlas of molluscs living in the Mediterranean.
Lately Settepassi has one hope: to see his collection on display to the public because, he thought, and repeated, it is right that everyone can enjoy the resources, the beauty and mystery of Nature. And it is this end that, in 1956, he gives to the City of Rome to his collection.