Giacomo Bove Day

A tribute to the explorer from Maranzana

Giacomo Bove Day is the cultural event through which the Municipality of Maranzana, in the province of Asti, celebrates the life of explorer Giacomo Bove (1852-1887) every year, who was born in this very village in the Piedmontese Monferrato. A Royal Navy officer and geographer, Bove is best remembered for his participation in the historic Vega expedition, which completed the first Arctic circumnavigation via the Northeast Passage between 1878 and 1880, as well as his explorations in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and the Congo.

A day of memory and outreach

The event, organized by the Giacomo Bove & Maranzana Cultural Association in collaboration with the Municipality of Maranzana, features a series of moments that blend commemoration, scientific outreach, and conviviality. The day begins with a free guided tour of the Giacomo Bove House Museum, located in the explorer's birthplace—now also the town hall—where documents, memorabilia, and testimonies of his travels to the ends of the earth are preserved. This is followed by a commemorative ceremony with a tribute at his tomb, held at the La Maranzana Winery.

Lectures

The heart of the event lies in the lectures hosted in the winery's hall, which each year involve speakers from the academic and military worlds. Topics range from polar expeditions to cartography, and current issues related to Arctic geopolitics, with the participation of representatives from the Italian Navy and Air Force. The meeting traditionally concludes with a toast offered by the winery, in a land where wine is an integral part of the local identity.

Maranzana and the Monferrato

Maranzana is a small village of about 300 inhabitants nestled in the UNESCO-recognized wine hills of the Monferrato, in Piedmont. Dominated by a 14th-century castle, the town thrives on viticulture: the local winery produces Moscato, Barbera, and Dolcetto, as well as a red wine named Vega in honor of its explorer's achievements. Giacomo Bove Day is the perfect opportunity to discover this corner of the Asti area, combining culture, history, and oenological tradition.

Who is it for?

• Enthusiasts of exploration history and geography
• Families and school groups interested in scientific outreach
• Visitors who love the villages of the Monferrato and their cultural and food-and-wine trails