The "Unione Astrofili Italiani" (UAI - Italian Amateur Astronomers Union), a no-profit association, has been the national reference of amateur astronomers, both as individuals and local associations, since 1967. With a broad set of research teams, a calendar of national public events around astronomy, a network of 56 local delegations, UAI is at the heart of the amateur astronomers’ community. Research programs cover all amateur astronomy research fields, with links and collaborations with professional astronomers and with international research programs. UAI is also very focused on astronomy popularization, education support and dark skies preservation.