Founded in 1808 and since 1845 housed in the monumental complex of Saints Severino and Sossio, one of the oldest and most significant centers of Benedictine spirituality in Southern Italy, the State Archives of Naples preserves some of the most precious documentary treasures of the Kingdom. Among these, the precious papers of the Consulate of the Art of Silk stand out, established in the 15th century, a vast documentary heritage that tells the story of medieval Naples, animated by lively artisan workshops: from silk workers to dyers, from glove makers to tanners; a testimony to the intense activity of the guild and the importance of the silk trade throughout Europe. One of the most fascinating episodes concerns the production of the famous "Naples black", a particular shade of black silk that only Neapolitan dyers were able to create and which was exported as far as France. Today, the State Archives, a peripheral office of the Ministry of Culture, has the task of conserving, protecting and promoting the use of these documents, which cover over seventy linear kilometers of deposits. The Archive is a precious testimony to the past of Southern Italy, with documents ranging from economic activities to cultural events, thanks also to funds from the Notary District of Naples, and private collections of great value, such as those of the intellectual Paolo Ricci, of the writer Anna Maria Ortese and the Bourbon Archive, acquired in 1951 and considered a true archival and historical jewel.