  We present and discuss near-ultraviolet and optical ground-based spectra of
the 20 brightest Seyfert 2 nuclei, and HST ultraviolet images and ultraviolet
spectroscopy for a few of them. The goal is to study the starburst-AGN
connection and the origin of the featureless continuum. The results indicate
that half of the nuclei in the sample harbor a young and/or intermediate age
population. These stars are formed in powerful and dusty starbursts of short
duration, that have bolometric luminosities similar to the estimated bolometric
luminosities of their obscured Seyfert 1 nuclei.
