Lucca Photographic Archive - Inside Villa Bottini, resides the Commune of Lucca Photographic Archive (AFL), started in 1979, when the Commune took ownership of the archive of Luccan photographer Ettore Cortopassi (1895-1989). The archive comprises 220,000 images: 40,000 negatives of large format on glass or flat film; 145,000 negatives on rolled film; 35,000 positives printed by Cortopassi himself or, in any event, in his laboratory. The "Cortopassi" Foundation comprises, moreover, photographic equipment of remarkable interest and several picture-oriented publications.

In 2004, the Commune acquired the entire body of work of Luccan photographer Eugenio Ghilardi (1910-1985). This was the start of the "Eugene Ghilardi" Foundation, containing 350,000 negatives in various formats and numerous pieces of photographic equipment used by Ghilardi himself during his long career.

The AFL also supervises the Cucirini Cantoni Coats Foundation, donated by the Acquacalda Cucirini Coast, a large multinational enterprise operating in Lucca since the beginning of the last century.

There are also other local Foundations of more recent inception. In the Commune "Ufficio Tecnico" Foundation are stored numerous images that document the restoration and consolidation of frescoes of Villa Bottini, which took place in 1986. The "Ufficio Cultura" Foundation hosts material from this communal office. Other Foundations are the "Pietro Lazzarini" and the "Giunta Sindaco" Foundations. The latter, since the sixties, has on display images of events with the figures of the Mayor of Lucca or other administrators of the City.

The AFL can be researched online from the Civic net of the Commune of Lucca and at the Agora Cultural Center, where a computer is available, and there is always staff at hand with research tips and suggestions. ... from "Lucca" (Apt Lucca)