Filippo Pigafetta and 16th-century Vicenza culture In 2022, the 500th anniversary of Antonio Pigafetta's first trip around the world occurs; he is commemorated with due honors. It is also an occasion to remember that another member of the family, Filippo, was a leading exponent of the Vicenza culture of that century.
He was born in Vicenza in 1533, the year in which historians hypothesize that Antonio died in Greece, fighting against the Turks. Like his ancestor, Philip too was a great traveler; but also military commander, geographer, fortification expert, polyglot and writer. He began his military career by fighting in 1561 with Catholic troops to defend Paris from the siege of the Protestant Huguenots. He fought in Lepanto. Then in Spain and England he was attached to diplomatic missions. He wrote various reports on the Spanish and British fleets. He returned to Venice from where he left for some trips to the Middle East: to Syria, Sinai and Persia, which he narrated in letters and publications. Back in Italy he was in the service of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, so he studied the strengthening of the port of Livorno. From Vicenza he was in contact with the Dutch geographer Ortelio, author of the first Atlas illustrating in detail all the European regions; Filippo sent him an accurate map of the province of Vicenza and an extensive explanatory text which were included in the Atlas; this was published and had reprints and translations throughout Europe. Filippo wrote many letters on various subjects; interesting for us is the report he wrote (as a spectator) for the inauguration of the Olimpico on March 3, 1585, full of lively and mischievous details. He died in Vicenza in 1604 and was buried in S. Domenico under a large tombstone. On the occasion of some careless work, the tombstone was destroyed, served as a manhole and was lost. Now a plaque placed by Count Alvise da Schio in 1977, next to the entrance gate to S. Domenico, honors the memory of that great Vicentino. Ing. Fabio Gasparini
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