The Istituto per l'Oriente (IPO) is the most ancient Italian institution of studies and researches on modern and contemporary Muslim and Arab world. It was established on the  13th March 1921. In 1982 the Institute added to its name the name of one of its most important founders, Prof. Carlo Alfonso Nallino who had been for a long time scientific Director and Director of journal Oriente Moderno. The Institute is constituted by a number of associates, mainly Italian academics and scholars and has, along with the publishing activity covering journals and books, a library open to the public and scholars and other institutional activities.