The "Nicolò Rezzara" Institute for Social Sciences in Vicenza is a free - thinking association with cultural purposes, legally recognised by Italian law (D.P.R. n. 239 of 12th March 1981 of the President of the Republic).
Its aim is to cultivate, develop and further the study of the numerous aspects of social life with regard to the problems of mankind. To this end the Institute promotes conferences, meetings, courses, consultancies and services; it organizes research and then publishes the results of the research upon completion (clause 1 of the statute).

Since the sixties the Institute has studied the cultural movements of social communication, family values, the need for formation to fit into social life, with reflections on modern culture and civilization with an eye to the everchanging world.

The Istituto Rezzara is well-known in the Veneto region and also throughout Italy for its cultural studies and research. Its courses, conferences and symposia are attended by people from the various Provinces of the Veneto and from neighbouring Regions. In fact these are often more numerous than the locals. The work has a vicentine character as regards the level of information and cultural promotion. The services such as the theme - based cultural debates on Fridays, the Europa forum, the projects for teaching non-professional computer use to adults, and for tutors for adults, as well as some courses for young people. The Istituto Rezzara started the University for Adults and Senior Citizens in Vicenza and in the Province in 1981 and in 1991 became an autonomous foundation. Since it was founded there has been progressive development and an increase in the number of projects and activities which revolve around definite subjects (social communication, social - cultural meetings, family relationships, religion) with an aim of providing a new service for the community, without entering into competition or antagonising those organisations and cultural activities which are already in existence, but with a view of opening up a dialogue with them, in the spirit of serving the community and not just serving its own aims.

This is illustrated by the basic choices, by the pinpointing of research to be carried out in the social spectrum, by the multi - subject research and the preference for applied research and for the continued thorough examination of the results. The Istituto Rezzara bears the name of the vicentine sociologist, born in Chiuppano in 1848, who was a teacher of literature at the "Cordellina" College in Vicenza until he was transferred to Bergamo, where he died in 1915. He dedicated a great part of his life to the problems of schooling and of the Press, and founded the "Eco di Bergamo". He was the forerunner of the Italian Catholic Movement and secretary of the Opera dei Congressi.