1973
The Ligabue Study and Research Center is founded

Giancarlo Ligabue was an entrepreneur, explorer, and tireless promoter of scientific knowledge. Driven by a deep curiosity about humanity and the planet, he founded the Ligabue Study and Research Center, launching more than 130 scientific expeditions around the world.

Over more than fifty years of activity, these research projects—conducted in collaboration with universities and international institutions—have made a significant contribution to the development of anthropological, archaeological, and natural history studies, building a legacy of research and vision that continues to generate value today.

1982
The Ligabue Magazine

Ligabue Magazine was founded in 1982 as a natural extension of the activities of the Ligabue Study and Research Center, with the aim of sharing explorations, discoveries, and scientific knowledge.

Inspired by Giancarlo Ligabue’s vision, the editorial project took shape as a way of narrating the world through the lens of research, transforming journeys, studies, and expeditions into an accessible form of storytelling capable of communicating and disseminating knowledge.

 Discover the Ligabue Magazine

“an ark of knowledge, capable of fascinating and inspiring anyone with a thirst for learning”

Alberto Angela – Editorial Director of The Ligabue Magazine

2016
The first exhibition in Venice

Since its first exhibition, held in Venice in 2016, the Foundation has developed a rich and wide-ranging exhibition program, creating numerous projects in collaboration with leading national and international institutions.

At the heart of this journey is the sharing of knowledge: more than 12 temporary exhibitions across Europe and Italy, with a particular focus on Venice, developed together with leading experts in their respective fields and enriched by loans from some of the world’s most prestigious museums, including the Musée du Louvre and the Musée du quai Branly in Paris, the British Museum in London, and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, as well as major Italian institutions such as the National Archaeological Museums of Florence and Naples, the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, the Pinacoteca di Brera, and the Castello Sforzesco in Milan.

 Discover our exhibition

2026

The Palazzo delle Arti e delle Culture opens to the public

A dialogue across more than 400 works spanning 4.5 billion years, bringing into relation the arts of origins, tribal art, ancient and contemporary art, and cultures and civilizations from around the world.

 Discover The Palazzo delle Arti e delle Culture

Ligabue Foundation's People

Board of Directors

Chairman
Inti Ligabue

Executive Vice President
Gianluca Ferrarese

Board Member
Alessandro Danesin

Statutory Auditor
Giovanni Diaz

Il nostro obiettivo è la totale soddisfazione di ogni cliente. In caso contrario, contattaci e faremo del nostro meglio per trovare una soluzione insieme a te.

Comitato Scientifico

Il Comitato Scientifico della Fondazione Ligabue riunisce studiosi ed esperti di rilievo internazionale, con l’obiettivo di orientare e garantire il rigore delle attività di ricerca, delle pubblicazioni e dei progetti culturali promossi dalla Fondazione.

Team

Registrar
Gianluca Ferrarese

Head of PR, Communication and Events
Lucia Berti
lucia.berti@fondazioneligabue.it

Head of Programs
Silvia Lattuada
silvia.lattuada@fondazioneligabue.it

Head of Collection
Cecilia Riva
cecilia.riva@fondazioneligabue.it

Social Media Manager e Copywriter
Margherita Maiani

Press Office
Villaggio Globale International

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Giancarlo Ligabue

Giancarlo Ligabue (1931–2015) was a multifaceted figure who combined enthusiasm, international vision, and entrepreneurial spirit. A graduate in Paleontology from the Sorbonne and awarded four honorary degrees, he led Ligabue S.p.A., transforming it into a global leader in maritime and airline catering, expanding its operations “across sky, sea, and land.”

Alongside his business success, he cultivated a deep passion for archaeology and anthropology. In 1973, he founded the Ligabue Study and Research Center, promoting more than 130 scientific expeditions, documented through numerous publications and audiovisual productions.

A prominent figure in Venice’s cultural and institutional life, he served as president of Reyer Basket, was a Member of the European Parliament, and Consul of Sweden. Over the course of his career, he received important honors, including the UNESCO Prize and the Keys to the City of Venice.

In 2016, one year after his passing, his son Inti founded the Fondazione Giancarlo Ligabue, with the aim of preserving and continuing his cultural and scientific legacy.

Inti Ligabue

Inti Ligabue (1981) represents the third generation leading the Ligabue Group, a company with more than one hundred years of history. After earning a degree in Business Administration from the University of Bologna, he furthered his education with a Master’s in Administration, Finance, and Control at SDA Bocconi, followed by additional advanced training programs.

He joined the company after completing his studies, gaining experience across various divisions of the Group and contributing to the development and consolidation of its activities with a focus on innovation and international growth.

Since 2012, he has served as Chief Executive Officer and, since 2016, also as Chairman of the Group, which he leads in continuity with the entrepreneurial vision of its founder, Anacleto Ligabue, and his father Giancarlo, combining tradition with contemporary development.

Alongside his business responsibilities, he is actively involved in promoting the cultural and scientific activities of the Fondazione Giancarlo Ligabue, serving as its President and contributing to strengthening its role on both the national and international stage.