This thematic section of the Italian Journal of Geosciences - Bollettino della Società Geologica Italiana e del Servizio Geologico d'Italia, contains a collection of 32 papers that deal with the structural geology, tectonics and geodynamics of the Apennine and Alpine orogenic belts. The papers were presented at the 2-day meeting “Alps and Apennines: a natural laboratory for structural geology and geodynamics” that was held in Pisa on October 2007. A number of renowned scientists of international reputation, with considerable experience on italian geology, has kindly accepted our invitation to contribute to the thematic section with solicited papers.

The meeting was organized to honour the work of Gaetano Giglia and Tonino Decandia, two leading "Maestri" for the entire italian geological community, who both sadly passed away in May 2006. Gaetano and Tonino graduated in Geological Sciences at the Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Università di Pisa around the mid 1960s. They had started their geological research activities together, through fruitful and frequent exchanges of experience and ideas. The developments of their academic careers had brought them far apart in Genova and Siena, respectively, where they had been appointed to teach geology. Tonino and Gaetano were amongst the first researchers to make systematic use of conventional and modern techniques of structural analysis in the study of tectonic and orogenic problems of the italian territory. Thanks to their achievements and recognitions, they were elected to cover positions of high responsibility within prestigeous academic and scientific institutions. Amongst other recognitions, they were both members of the Council of the Società Geologica Italiana, and pioneers and founders of the Gruppo Italiano di Geologia Strutturale (GIGS). They taught to generations of students and young researchers with passionate dedication, leading them with constructive advice through their first steps in geological research; and they took pleasure in collaborating with many italian and foreign colleagues.

Most of the papers that make the body of this thematic section are focused on the geology of the Alps and Apennines, that were the common ground for many important studies of Tonino and Gaetano; however, a paper on the structural evolution of the Moine Thrust Belt in the NW Highlands of Scotland is also present, to remind how much the seminal work carried out by pioneer geologists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in both continental Europe and the British Isles has had an influence in the cultural training of these two great geologists. Most papers are based on original results from investigations that share structural analytical techniques, although contributions resulting from multidisciplinal approaches on the relationships between tectonics and sedimentology, basin development, magmatism and seismicity are also contained in the thematic section. These studies collectively demonstrate that structural geology, tectonics and geodynamics have made significant progresses in the last decades, leading to an enhanced understanding of the evolution of the Alps-Apennine system and neighbouring settings; nevertheless, many ideas contained in the seminal contributions of Gateano and Tonino are still vivid, original and up to date.

Many italian and foreign colleagues, and amongst these the components of Scientific Committee of the meeting, have kindly assisted us by providing thorough, rigorous and constructive critical reviews of the papers that were submitted for this collection. We are grateful to them all for their continuous support throughout the steps of this exciting editorial task!

The Guest Editors of the Thematic Section:

Giovanni Capponi

Michele Marroni

Enrico Tavarnelli

Fernando Calamita