BeppoSAX observations of bright Seyfert 2 galaxies

We report on BeppoSAX broad band (0.1-100 keV) observations of bright Seyfe rt 2 galaxies and discuss the results in the framework of the unified theor y of AGNs. The data are used to probe NH distribution in type 2 objects and to identify heavily absorbed (10(24) less than or equal to N-H less than o r equal to 10(25) cm(-2)) sources, which are particularly bright in hard X- rays. They also provide, for the first time, high energy spectral data on S eyfert 2s and tight constraints on the shape of their intrinsic power law c ontinuum. These results confirm the basic expectations of the unified theor y and indicate where the INTEGRAL mission can give a substantial contributi on.