Canavese Roots, Horizons of Egypt - Celebrations for the 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Bernardino Drovetti

Barbania pays tribute to the father of the Egyptian Museum

In the heart of the Canavese region, just a few kilometers from Turin, the small town of Barbania dedicated an entire week to the memory of its most famous son. Bernardino Drovetti (1776-1852), a diplomat in the service of Napoleon and later French consul in Egypt, assembled an extraordinary collection of Egyptian antiquities which, purchased by King Charles Felix in 1824, still constitutes the founding core of the Egyptian Museum of Turin, the oldest museum in the world entirely dedicated to Nilotic civilization.

For the 250th anniversary of his birth, from May 9th to 17th, 2026, the Municipality of Barbania, together with the Pro Loco and the Barbaniese Cultural Group, promoted the event "Canavese Roots, Horizons of Egypt," included in the Salone Off 2026 program linked to the Turin International Book Fair.

A program blending history, art, and education

The inauguration on Saturday, May 9th at 8:30 PM, featured the presentation of a mural created by artist Ufocinque (Matteo Capobianco), followed at 9:00 PM by a lecture from the Egyptian Museum curator Beppe Moiso on the museum after Drovetti. On Monday, May 11th, a tribute at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin, in front of the consul's restored tomb, sealed the twinning between the primary school of Barbania and the Turin secondary school named after Drovetti.

• Thursday, May 14th, at the Book Fair: presentation of the biographical volume on Drovetti with the director of the Egyptian Museum, Christian Greco;
• Friday, May 15th: inauguration of the Narrative Trail at Parco Giardinas and a themed dinner "From the Alps to the Pyramids," blending Canavese and Egyptian cuisine;
• On the weekend of May 16th and 17th: guided theatrical tours ("Trial of Bernardino Drovetti") with access to his birthplace, the "Consul's Tent" escape room, the giant "Egyptomania" game, traveling shows for children, and a meeting with Beppe Tenti, founder of Overland.

The Canavese looking toward the Nile

The event transformed Barbania into an ideal bridge between Piedmont and Ancient Egypt, highlighting the Canavese roots of a figure who shaped the cultural history of Turin and Italy. Between documentaries, outdoor sports activities, and social gatherings, the week combined academic rigor with a festive spirit, offering residents and visitors a unique opportunity to rediscover the figure of Drovetti in the town of his birth.