In 2025, the Municipality of Genoa will promote a calendar of events celebrating nineteenth-century Genoa.
Biblioteca Civica Berio, Genoa's most ancient library, launches “A Taste of History”, a new initiative to narrate this intense season to a vast English-speaking audience.
“A Taste of History” is based on the “Assaggi di Ottocento” video project designed by food historian and essayist Umberto Curti. Luisa Puppo, food and tourism cross-cultural communication specialist, adapted the project’s concept and drafted the English content into a set of carousels on Facebook and Instagram.
Together, we have selected 10 specific dates from 1814 to 1876 dedicated to events, writers, patriots, musicians, and gastronomes.
The background of our story is a different city, but also close to the present day. In the early 19th century, Genoa had about 75,000 inhabitants: over the next hundred years, it endured earthquakes and floods, grippe and cholera epidemics. All the while, industries, newspapers, artistic expressions and events flourished.
The second half of the 19th century was a thriving age for Liguria: new railway connections with Turin, the development of the port, the growth of the economy, and the establishment of glasshouses (eventually, basil could be grown all year round).
Everything was changing in this new age of industrialisation.
Step back to Genoa in the 1800s: in 2025, celebrate Genoa's rich past with special events. Explore ten key dates from 1814 to 1876. Discover stories of writers, heroes, music, and food in this lively era.
1814 - Landings, popes, and sweet delights
1827 - Mazzini, Manzoni, droghe & coloniali
1834 - Journey to Maritime Liguria
1835 – La torta di Mazzini - Mazzini's cake
1839 - Paganini's ravioli
1847 - A national anthem and fancy Vienna bread
1851 - The Strength of Sacripante
1863 - Giobatta Ratto's “Cuciniera Genovese
1866 - Wars, patriots and chocolate
1876 – Coffeehouses and philosophers.
“A Taste of History” – Genova nell’Ottocento si racconta in inglese
Genova nel 2025 focalizza l’Ottocento come àmbito prioritario d’indagine circa la storia cittadina, dedicandogli specifiche iniziative.
“A Taste of History”, la nuova iniziativa promossa da Biblioteca Civica Berio, narra quest’intensa stagione al vasto pubblico anglofono.
“A Taste of History” origina da “Assaggi di Ottocento”, il video progetto ideato dallo storico dell’alimentazione e saggista Umberto Curti per Biblioteca Civica Berio. Luisa Puppo, specialista di comunicazione interculturale dei settori food e turismo, ha adattato il concept e i contenuti del progetto in lingua inglese, utilizzando il formato dei carousel – strumento assai versatile per la diffusione tramite canali social media.
10 date specifiche dal 1814 al 1876 dedicate ad eventi, scrittori, patrioti, musicisti e gastronomi.
Alessandro Manzoni, la torta di Mazzini, i ravioli di Paganini, la “Cuciniera” di Giobatta Ratto, le caffetterie… sono le risorse intorno alle quali raccontare eventi, persone, aneddoti, atmosfere.
