The Arcadia Academy was founded in 1690 by a number of men of letters, including Giovan Mario Crescimbeni and Gian Vincenzo Gravina.

The Academy, whose program pursued the renewal of Italian poetry vis-à-vis Baroque bad taste, while referring in its name to the mountainous Greek region, never favored an inspiration of a distinctly pastoral character, but rather practiced Pindaric, Anacreontic and Petrarchan lyricism in the heroic, idyllic and amorous genres, respectively. The Academy was a veritable republic, governed by laws drafted by Gravina in a Latin reminiscent of that of the Twelve Tables; members assumed, upon joining Arcadia, a Grecian name.

Born in Rome, Arcadia founded, over time, numerous colonies in other Italian cities, and experienced, especially in the 18th century, a period of great fame and popularity.
In Rome, gatherings and readings of verses composed by the Arcadians took place under the open sky, in the so-called "Bosco Parrasio," which had various locations, until it was established, in 1725, on the Janiculum Hill. Since 1941, the Roman Arcadia has deposited, at the Angelica Library, its collection of printed books (about 14,000 volumes), manuscripts (41 large miscellaneous volumes, containing rhymes and prose by members between 1690 and 1800), and its Historical Archives, consisting of 7 volumes of Arcadian Acts containing the "Facts of the Arcadians" (mostly minutes of assemblies), and 9 volumes of Archives, containing the "Catalog of Arcadian Pastors" between 1690 and 1824. The vestibule of the library displays some valuable portraits of distinguished archaeologists. The Academy regularly holds its meetings and conferences at the institute.

Visit the website of the Arcadia Academy to learn more.