Where
Museo di storia pianosina
Dates
From 31 May to 31 October 2026
From 31 May to 31 October 2026
Temporary Exhibition at the Pianosina History Museum
The exhibition is open during the Museum’s opening hours: daily from 11.30am to 5.00pm
Opening: Sunday 31 May at 11.30am
From Sunday 31 May and throughout the summer season, the Pianosa History Museum is hosting a special event dedicated to Cavaliere Giuseppe Cusmano, the scientist who, between 1881 and 1898, transformed the island into a world-leading agricultural laboratory. During that period, Pianosa became one of Italy’s most advanced centres of experimentation thanks to this extraordinary man, who was able to transform the Colonia Agricola Penale into an open-air workshop of innovation.
On the opening day, we will celebrate his legacy, recently brought to life in a new publication edited by his great-granddaughters Lucia Cusmano, Silvia Cusmano and Ilaria Monti, who, through their research, have revived the atmosphere of the late 19th century. A third great-granddaughter will also be present at the opening: Guido Cusmano, who still keeps the beautiful logbook of the ship Matteo Bruzzo, which the captain gave to our agronomist during the quarantine on Pianosa in 1884.
Cusmano was a true visionary: in a challenging region with little rainfall, he developed revolutionary techniques that can still be seen today, beginning work in the newly completed “Nuova Cantina” and introducing innovations such as glass-lined concrete wine vats and airtight fermentation systems. His ingenuity led him to devise and patent the “sbattimosto” for carbon dioxide and the ingenious glass bung for barrels, as well as to implement underground irrigation systems using perforated clay amphorae, always with the aim of enhancing the product and the work. We also owe him the construction of the “Tower of Babel”, the elegant stepped pyramid built from stones cleared from the vineyards, a symbol of a perfect balance between order and scenic beauty.
A refined communicator, he knew how to engage with the nobility of the time, such as the Marquis Carlo Ginori Lisci, and with the literati of the era, convinced that technical progress should go hand in hand with social improvement.
The island was also the centre of his private life: five of his eight children were born here, testifying to an unbreakable bond with this land. A man of culture who combined science with poetry, he also loved to experiment with taste, creating ruby-coloured wines which, as he himself wrote, brought liveliness and left one longing for more.
There will also be a section dedicated to his successors, his assistant Enrico Selci and the agronomist Agostino Petri, to provide a comprehensive overview of the area’s rural history.
The programme includes the exhibition opening and the book launch,
Programme for 31 May
A moment for members and guests
The opening day will be an important gathering for all our members and guests: as well as taking part in the cultural programme, we will be able to enjoy a pleasant moment of conviviality together in the island’s splendid setting. For those who wish, there will be the opportunity to visit the church, the wine cellar, the geo-archaeological museum, and the museum of history, agriculture and biodiversity housed in the agronomist’s house, or to take a stroll through the village, accompanied by members who have lived in Pianosa.
