1933 – The signature of the inventor. Browsing through the old signature books of Caprera.
On Sunday 18 August, 2019, from 14.30 to 18.30, the Compendio Garibaldino of Caprera will have a special opening, and will exhibit the visitor register with the authentic signature of one of the most important scientists of the 1900s, Guglielmo Marconi.
Marconi (1874-1937) is considered to be the father of the radio and of all the modern systems of communication. The island of Caprera played a very important role in the development of his studies. In 1901, the Italian Navy sent telegraphic signals, at first from the installation of Monte Tejalone, and later from the one of Becco di Vela. With the use of some devices invented by the scientist, the signals were directed to Monte Argentario and Livorno. And that is how, after 20 years from the death of Giuseppe Garibaldi, La Maddalena, and particularly Caprera, became again a center of interest. Garibaldi was not just the Hero of the Risorgimento, but he was also a man with great intellectual sensibility and curiosity towards everything that modern science offered to mankind, with his positive enthusiasm that was so typical during the end of XIX and the beginning of the XX century.
After many years, in 1933, Marconi came to the Archipelago. He was staying in Capo Figari, near Golfo Aranci, trying to find a location to install a new radio site. On August 29th, accompanied by his wife Maria Cristina, and by his brother, he paid tribute to Garibaldi’s memory by visiting his house, his grave, and by signing the visitor log book of the house/museum.