In this article, we discuss the features and consequences of intra-party democracy (IPD) in Italian parties in the last two decades. We start by mapping the democratic innovations in Italy, both in terms of rules and practices. We focus on the use and consequences of open and closed primaries for selecting both party leaders and candidates for legislative and executive offices. Finally, we explore the consequences of the use of primaries and other instruments of IPD for party organization, by focusing on the effects of such democratic practices on the party in central office, on the party on the ground and on the party in public office.