the real monte manso di scala foundation originated in 1608 as a charitable institution patronized by the marchese di villa, giovan battista manso di scala. the aim was to support the seminary studies of poor aristocrats. education was entrusted to the jesuit order. for these purposes the charity acquired the present palace in 1654 from the principe di scanno, girolamo d’afflitto. manso in 1611 was also one of the founders of a literary humanist group, accademia degli oziosi (academy of the idle) in naples. he was helped in this regard by the viceroy don pedro fernández de castro y andrade, to whom miguel de cervantes dedicated many of his works.