Part of the history of Marconi’s yacht took place in Trieste and in the Adriatic Sea, a European history that began in Belle Epoque, with the commission by the Archdukes Maria Theresa and Charles Stephen, and ends after two world wars.
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi, the Trieste Sea Museum exhibits some of the yacht’s finds preserved in its collection, alongside a photographic campaign created for the occasion by the artist Primož Bizjak, dedicated to the parts of the hull of the Rovenska-Elettra also present in other cultural institutions. A poetic form of reuniting the sections into which the hull was divided: the current location, which also defines the meaning of each of the relics, gives new value to an original widespread monument, almost a second life for the yacht.
The exhibition, dedicated to the history of the yacht Rovenska–Electra, integrates the broadest and most in-depth story on the figure of Guglielmo Marconi outlined by the many prestigious activities that animated the anniversary celebrations throughout Italy.
The history of the yacht, which will become famous thanks to Guglielmo Marconi, begins in Leith (Scotland) in 1904 with the name of Rovenska, when it was built by the Ramage & Ferguson shipyard on the orders of Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, consort of Archduke Charles Stephen of Habsburg Teschen Habsburg-Lorraine, admiral of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy, lover of the sea and buyer of racing boats and other steam yachts such as theBone, Waturus and, in 1911, theUl.
Rovenska was sold several times until it became part of the ownership of Royal Navy to be used during the Great War as patrol vessel and minesweeper. After the conflict it was put up for auction and, in 1919, purchased by Guglielmo Marconi who, in 1920, moved it to La Spezia where it was renovated and equipped as floating laboratory, under the supervision of the Royal Navy, and then renamed Elettra.
The Electra will be used both as a private residence and for scientific experiments, especially on the use of short waves in radio broadcasting, soon becoming known throughout the world for some spectacular experiments such as the broadcast, in 1930, of the signal for switching on public lighting from Genoa to Sydney.
In 1937, following Marconi’s death, the yacht was purchased by the Ministry of Communications and moored in La Spezia. In 1940 is transferred to Trieste, a port considered safe.
Il 9 September 1943, the German armed forces, having occupied the city, took possession of the Elettra with the aim of using it for war purposes. In the following months, the yacht was then returned to the custody of the Società Italia, with the task of carrying out the necessary transformations. At this time, documents, books, some furnishings and the equipment of the on-board laboratory with the radiotelegraph cabin were saved.
These materials, including the trees and anchors, were initially kept in a hangar of the Magazzini Generali of the Old Port, moved several times and ended up in the basement of the Castle of San Giusto.
In January of 1944, the Elettra was spotted by Allied air reconnaissance north of Zara, in Diklo Bay and, after a few hours, attacked and sunk by a squadron of British aircraft.
At the end of the 1950s, negotiations began between the Italian and Yugoslav governments for the return of the wreck to the Ministry of Posts. In 1962, the wreck is refloated and towed to the San Rocco shipyard in Muggia. In 1973, the hull is pulled ashore for technical surveys, but the cost estimates exceed the availability. In 1977 it was decided to section the wreck and to allocate the parts to various institutions and museums.
The exhibition involved prestigious institutions such as the Civic Museum of War for Peace Henriquez,Science Park area, and the Guglielmo Marconi Foundation, among others, to ensure the conservation and public enjoyment of the finds.
For more information, visit the official website of the Museum of the Sea:
www.museodelmaretrieste.it
Email: museomare@comune.trieste.it
The exhibition is Delivery to Italy takes one or two business days and accessible to all.
Special events with guided tours are scheduled on the following dates:
- Saturday 11 January 2025, 11.00 hours
- Saturday 25 January 2025, 11.00 hours
- Saturday 8 February 2025, 11.00 pm
Reservation required at: museomare@comune.trieste.it
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