founding fathers of Italian medical historiography. Around 1832, De Renzi develops interest in the evolution of the figure of the physician in Italy. His masterpiece, Storia della medicina in Italia (History of medicine in Italy, Naples 1845-1848), includes the evolution of medicine in Italy ranging from the etruscan age to the end of the XVIII century in five considerable volumes. De Renzi does not deny the inspiration taken from Giambattista Vico while writing the Storia, neither does he hide his admiration for Vincenzo Gioberti's ideals. These influences undeniably give his Storia della medicina in Italia a distinctly political approach: de Renzi had a consistent motivational role during the Springtime of the Peoples in 1848: one of the purposes of his magnum opus was to highlight the professional distinction of Italian physicians, in order to fuel proud revolutionary uprisings which would then lead to unification of Italy. Collectio Salernitana Collectio Salernitana ossia Documenti inediti e trattati di medicina appartenenti alla scuola medica salernitana raccolti e illustrati da G. E. T. Henschel, C. Daremberg e S. De Renzi, premessa la storia della scuola e pubblicati a cura di S. De Renzi medico napolitano was firstly pubbliche in 1852 and is the first book that documents the medical school of Salerno and the forefront role it had in the scientific-medical field from 1000 to 1200. The school was most likely founded in 694 by benedictines and was mostly linked to Greek-Roman medical traditions until Gerard of Cremona introduced doctrines from Arab medical practices and schools. His passionate documentation of the importance of an Italian school brought to light the importance of individuating not only medical but cultural national roots. The decline and his last years De Renzi's great work as a scholar was finally acknowledged when, with the unification of Italy, a new contest for the professorship in History of Medicine of the University of Naples was organized. De Renzi was finally able to cover the role he had wanted and deserved until 1869, when he was forced to relinquish his title due to illness. The temper which had characterized him throughout his vast researches and his tireless editorial activity was severely undermined: the last years of his life were afflicted by recurring cardiovascular incidents. His last big role was the presidency of the International Medical Congress which took place in Florence in 1869. He died in Naples three years later on the