Abstract
Is esamined the current status of the theory of special relativity. The article contains an updated overview of the theoretical research and recent experimental evidence. Chapters I-II highlight the experimental foundations of special relativity and the consequent domain of applicability. Chapter III addresses the issues open of the level of theory and matematical formalism. In chapter IV the conclusions : about the equation of addition of velocities, the absence of confirmed extablished exsperiments for lenght contraction, as opposed to time dilation, the problems of the 4-dimensional formalism, i.e. the theory of spacetime. Special relativity represents a theory with verified experimental confirmation, but nevertheless lacks sufficient elements to assume it as a complete and definitive description of the spacetime relationships.