Figure 1.--The Nave Scuola Redenzione Garaventa was moored in Genoa (1883). This was founded by Nicolò Garaventa (1848-1917). Genoa if course is one of the Italian ports with the most storried naval tradition. The boys lived on board and trained in the sea life. They were given an elementary education and were trained for a job. Although it was not an official military istitution, the boys were subject to a strict disciplinary regime and wore sailor uniforms. They went barefoot while aboard and many may not have had shoes when they went ashore. This photograph was taken about 1905.

Reports exists of military schools in Italy in the 18th century, well before the founding of modern Italy. HBC has, however, little information on Italian military schools available yet. We do know of two naval training ships based upon the system established by the British Royal Navy.

Corfu Military School

We have noted the institution of a military school on the island of Corfù in the eighteenth century. In 1728 Johann Maria von Schulemburg proposed to the Venetian Senate the establishment of a military school which, in addition to the obvious advantage of improving military training from a technical point of view, would also foster a deeper relationship between the local elite and the administration of Venice. Schulemburg wrote of the urgent need to create technicians and experts "documented in military mathematics, whence they will conduct themselves with reason and sound principles, understanding the effect of causes. For this essential objective it is necessary to institute a military school in which one can learn the elements of these mathematics and later, fortification, artillery, and the art of navigation; thus also 10 or 12 of these officials will be trained, and brought up by the fortifications of Corfù and schooled by me, they will already be skilled in drawing and will promise greater profit".

Boys Naval Training Ships

The British Royal Navy training ships were the ispiration for two Italian school ships for street children. We notice two naval training ship programs. They were not official Italian Navy facilities, but did have a program based on a naval regime and skills.

Nave Scuola Marinaretti Caracciolo

The Nave Scuola Marinaretti Caracciolo was moored in Naples. We are not sure to what extent the state was involved. We have no information on traditional orphanages. We do note reports of large numbers of street children. Many of these were not orphans in the traditional sence of children who had lost their patents. Rather they were children whose parents were unable or unwilling to care for them. There was a special problem in Naples--the scugnizzi. We note the The "Nave Scuola Marinaretti Caracciolo" (School Ship Sailor-boys Caracciolo) founded in 1913 just before World War I. We do not have comolete details, but was presumably financed by the Royal Government.

Nave Scuola Redenzione Garaventa

The Nave Scuola Redenzione Garaventa was moored in Genoa (1883). This was founded by Nicolò Garaventa (1848-1917). Genoa if course is one of the Italian ports with the most storried naval tradition. The boys lived on board and trained in the sea life. They were given an elementary education and were trained for a job. Although it was not an official military istitution, the boys were subject to a strict disciplinary regime and wore sailor uniforms. They went barefoot while aboard and many may not have had shoes when they went ashore. The photograph here was taken about 1905.

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