THE CENTRE
A non-profit educational institution - (D.P.R. 27 Aug 1980 n.931)

Founded by Mario M. Montessori in 1961, the 'Centro Internazionale Studi Montessoriani' of Bergamo was the first A.M.I. (Association Montessori Internationale) centre to prepare Montessori teachers for elementary school and is therefore the A.M.I. centre with the longest tradition of holding advanced Montessori courses. During the early years, Mario Montessori lectured extensively for the Bergamo Course and the knowledge and experience developed over the years constituted a basis for all advanced training courses.

The C.I.S.M. Foundation is a centre of studies because it has undertaken research on Maria and Mario Montessori's unpublished contributions to Montessori methodology.

The C.I.S.M. Foundation is an international centre drawing students from all continents and countries. Thus, for the 64 courses that have been held, students have come from 50 different countries: 24 European and 26 belonging to other continents.