Italy - Expo Ghent 1913

But an eminent Italian engineer, Commander Ernest Todros, who had been living in Belgium for twenty-seven years, decided to organise an Italian section at his own expense; the respect and prestige he enjoyed in the Belgian, French and Italian industrial world guaranteed success.

Commissioner of the Italian section, Mr. Ernest Todros surrounded himself with express and devoted collaborators, Mr. Pilade Todros, Mr. Darche and Mr. Assandro, who actively fulfilled the functions of deputy commissioner, director and secretary respectively, and who were joined by Mr. Uttini, who had greatly contributed to the Italian participation in the exhibitions of Liege and Brussels.

The propaganda that these organisers made among their compatriots was so skilfully carried out and so well understood that they were able to have a vast palace built in front of the Avenue des Nations, occupying a surface of more than 2,500 square metres and which, with its Renaissance-style architectural elements, was a legitimate success.

Alongside numerous Florentine marbles, one could see everything that Italy produces in the decorative field: Venetian crystals of such a magical effect in electric light, ceramics whose designs bear witness to the innate artistic instinct of their craftsmen, mosaics worthy of adorning princely residences, various jewels, inlaid furniture, admirable silks, sumptuous embroideries, in short, everything that Italy, the land of grandiose buildings, has invented for their ornamentation.

The generous soil of Italy is fertile in fruit; its wines are renowned; the country produces in abundance Asti, Lacrima Christi, Chianti, Muscat, Vermouth and a host of liqueurs derived from the wine industry, too well known to list here.

In the field of food, Italy showed its famous pastas, the tasty "samali", the confectionery, the preserved fruits and vegetables, the clear oils, without which there is no authentic cuisine of the South. Finally, an interesting compartment for the researcher was reserved for industrial and commercial documents, which showed a nation that was very modern in its activity and aspirations.

©Livre d'Or de l'Exposition Universelle & Internationale de Gand 1913