The archive was formally established in 1988. It collects approximately 1,500 plates from the Fiume period (September 1919 – January 1921) and 2,000 additional photographs illustrating d’Annunzio, his life, his women, in addition to the construction of Il Vittoriale. The archive also includes approximately 200 negatives.
The film library contains 37 original reels of celluloid and acetate film – copied onto VHS tapes and DVD discs – containing images filmed on Il Vittoriale while d’Annunzio lived on the premises. This film material was later broadened to include television film recordings of d’Annunzio and his place of residence, which were produced from 1963 onwards.