Una guida essenziale per il migrante italiano nella Romania del 1910

Abstract

Abstract: During the great Italian migration, which took place at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, there was an acute need for institutionalized assistance and guardianship to be given by the Italian state. These were supposed to reduce the number of hazardous emigration efforts that would often lead to tragedies. After several decades riddled with emigration, the Italian state recognised the urgent need for a legislation to be enacted in this area and established a General Emigration Commission, whose main purpose was to provide assistance to the emigrant and to closely study the phenomenon of Italian emigration.

Thus, in 1910, an essential tool for Italian emigrants heading to Romania was created: a guidebook entitled Avvertenze per l’emigrante italiano nei Paesi Balcanici (Bulgaria, Grecia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turchia d’Europa) e in Rumania. The guidebook explained, step by step, what they had to do before departure, during the journey and once they arrived at their destination. This manual has therefore been essential in the process of informing and guiding the emigrants, which highlights the importance of a written brochure containing accurate and correct information and replacing rumours that had often lead to misinformation, and as a result, problems and unpleasant experiences at destination.