In the news1906
Simplon Tunnel opens, 1906
In 1906, the Simplon Tunnel, at 19.7 km the world's longest at the time, opened, connecting Italy and Switzerland by rail.
12 May 1903 – 3 Apr 1977
5 facts1 source
12 May 1903
Born
17 Mar 1940
A daughter is born
3 Apr 1977
Dies, aged 73
She lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
Who governed
Monarch of Italy, 951 · Kingdom of Italy
Monarch of Italy, 947 · Kingdom of Italy
Monarch of Italy, 1900–1946 · Kingdom of Italy
In the news1906
In 1906, the Simplon Tunnel, at 19.7 km the world's longest at the time, opened, connecting Italy and Switzerland by rail.
Music
Christmas Music by Zampognari Musicians
At Christmastime, zampognari musicians traveled from the Abruzzi mountains to Naples, playing bagpipes and the ciaramella to perform music before images of the Holy Infant during the nine-day Novena.
Around the world · 1908–1927The Model T. Ford’s assembly line made a car ordinary families could buy: fifteen million were built.
Daily life
Free company-provided school for workers' children
At the Crespi factory school, the company provided everything for children, including all textbooks, pens, and the salaries and housing for their teachers.
In the news1905
In 1905, the Italian state nationalized the railway network, forming the State Railways (FS) to modernize transport and boost heavy industry.
What people wore
Apron signals romantic interest
In mountain villages, women used their aprons as a silent language; moving the apron to the right side signaled a romantic interest in a young man.
Getting around
Reaching the train station by mule cart
For many people in the early 1900s, reaching a train station required walking down mountain paths to a village where they could catch a mule cart. This was often the first time individuals had traveled beyond a few miles from their birthplace.