Canzone Italiana is the most complete testimony of the Italian musical heritage, which is renowned all over the world for its uniqueness; it is a true sound encyclopedia, a musical emblem and a defining, invaluable element of Italian culture. It is constituted by thousands of tracks from the collections of the Central Institute for Sound and Audiovisual Heritage which are gradually made available in collaboration with several public and private sound archives.

The collections available on the portal include:

the entire ICBSA catalogue of published recordings, which is made available alongside unreleased audio material (mainly linked to the popular and demo-ethno-anthropological traditions). This material can be accessed through a search by author, performer, musician etc. or by consulting thematic sections (proper playlists) and graphic material associated with the recordings thus, offering a complete overview of the patrimony of recorded songs in Italy.

The thematic collections resulting from an organization of the tracks by musical itineraries. These collections offer further insight into the material found in the database, and will be curated in collaboration with renowned Italian artists and the best experts in the field.

Participants in the project include the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the SIAE, the FIMI and various associations of independent producers, as well as writers, actors, musicians, experts, and private collectors.