The origins of this Institute may be found in the pedagogical activity of Luisa Amalia Paladini who, under the Duchy of Charles Ludwig of Bourbon, founded a school of Aportian inspiration in a building located in Via San Nicolao. In 1923, subsequent to the school system reform promoted by Giovanni Gentile in which normal schools were converted into teacher's training school, the Teachers' Training Institute was established, named for Paladini. In 1998 it united with the Liceo Classico "Machiavelli" ["Machiavelli" Classical Secondary School] to become the Istituto Statale d'Istruzione Superiore "Machiavelli-Paladini" ["Machiavelli-Paladini" State Institute of Higher Studies].

The scientific collection of the Liceo Socio-psico-pedagogico e Liceo delle Scienze Sociali "Luisa Amalia Paladini" contains minerals and animals preserved in fluid as well as mechanical instruments. The objects, acquired by the Institute starting from the time of its foundation, formed part of the equipment of the Science Cabinet.