150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi – the radiotelegraph station in Coltano

From 16 to 31 July a series of initiatives to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi, who built the Coltano radiotelegraph station.

Programme under construction

The Guglielmo Marconi Radiotelegraphic Station was inaugurated in 1911 in the presence of the famous Italian inventor called by King Victor Emmanuel III to pursue in Italy the studies he was conducting in Cornwall. The Palazzina Marconi, built in the hamlet of Coltano, was able to sum up in its architecture both the functionality and monumentality necessary for the time. Until 1940 the Centre was active and used for communications all over the world. The first signals sent from Marconi’s station reached Canada and Eritrea; the SOS of the Titanic was received here and, in 1931, the signal that lit the lights of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro left from Coltano. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, the antennas were completely destroyed and never restored.