Istituto Superiore per la Protezione
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Central Museum of the Risorgimento

Rome (16 March - 2 June 2011), Vittoriano - Exhibition "Roots of the national identity. Italy as cultural country"

The collection of relief maps of the Geological Survey of Italy gathered and restored.

The collection of relief maps realized ​​in support of the Geological Map of Italy from 1877 until 1920, is the most conspicuous of its kind in the country and one of the most prestigious productions of an important national body such as the Royal Geological Office of Italy.This precious collection constitutes the heritage of the Geological Survey of Italy, with paleontological specimens and litho-mineralogical samples (over 150,000 specimens and artifacts), technical equipment, many relics and various works of art, and is now preserved by ISPRA.The 17 works gathered to create a collection are a significant testimony of the already extensive geological knowledge of the time and of the willingness to disclose it to the public. The relief maps were intended to represent important areas for the industrial economy (Isola d'Elba, Massa Marittima, Apuan Alps, Montecatini - Val di Cecina), for the geological risk (Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna, Province of Naples, Flegrei Fields, Isle of Ischia, Latium Volcano) or for geological and geo-morphological features (M.Bianco, M. Argentario, M. Soratte). The relief maps were a precise transposition of the technical maps, providing however a more accurate representation of the geological reality. They were used in decision-making context, as a promotional tool or for the dissemination of the Italian geological knowledge at national and "universal" exhibitions. They are therefore representative of an era and a tangible sign of the will of men of science and politicians to create a uniform knowledge of the Italian territory, especially in view of the future economic and infrastructure development of the country. For these reasons the Central Museum of the Risorgimento of the Vittoriano asked ISPRA to expose the entire collection at the exhibition, celebrating in 2011 the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, "Roots of the national identity", focused on the theme of Italy as cultural country. The exhibition was inaugurated on March 16 by the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano.