Urban Construction and Deconstruction. A Century of Railways in Genoa (1853-- 1953)

This article examines the transformative impact of railways on the city of Genoa from the mid--nineteenth century to the post--World War II period. Rail transport, alongside the advent of steam navigation and the expansion of ship sizes, played a pivotal role in reshaping Genoa’s commercial and urban landscape. As a key node in Italy’s first industrial triangle, the arrival of the railway marked a decisive break with the past, stimulating regional trade and forging critical connections between the port and inland manufacturing centers. Major projects such as the Giovi Tunnel and the expansion of Ansaldo’s locomotive production underscore Genoa’s pioneering role in technological innovation. Large sections of the city were transformed by railway construction, while the electrification of freight and passenger lines in 1911 and the construction of the Autocamionale in 1935 further enhanced its logistical capacity. Despite the destruction wrought by World War II, rail traffic rebounded in the postwar period. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including engineering reports, parliamentary debates, Chamber of Commerce data, and historical scholarship, this study explores the long--term relationship between Genoa’s railway infrastructure and its commercial function. It contributes to historiographical debates on transport and urban development by addressing two key questions: How did the railway shape Genoa’s maritime-commercial identity, and what innovations emerged in port–rail transport over the century?

Keywords: Genoa, Railway History, Transport History, Urban Structure, Genoese Port, Intermodality.

Federico Meneghini Sassoli, Leandro Stacchini, Decostruzione e ricostruzione urbana. Un secolo di ferrovie genovesi (1853 -­ 1953) in "STORIA URBANA " 179/2024, pp 87-113, DOI: 10.3280/SU2024-179004