Trans-Siberian Railway: Friulian Builders and the Epic Circum-Baikal Route
The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway stands as one of the greatest engineering feats in human history, forged through the extraordinary skill and sacrifice of thousands of Italian stone-cutters and Friulian miners.
The most perilous sector was the Circum-Baikal line (Krugobaykalskaya), skirting the crystalline, mountainous shores of Lake Baikal. Here, Italian master stonemasons carved dozens of tunnels, retaining walls, viaducts, and galleries through sheer granite, confronting sub-zero Siberian winters and remote wilderness.
Their enduring craftsmanship earned international admiration from Russian imperial engineers, leaving a timeless testament of Italian labour along the 9,289 kilometres uniting Moscow with Vladivostok.
Curated by Giancarlo Ganzerla.
Read more from GN Magazine – September 2026
Desenzano del Garda Mayors in the 1900s: The Historic 1919 Elections and Political Rebirth
In the aftermath of the First World War, the municipal governance of Desenzano del Garda entered a pivotal era with the general elections of November 16, 1919 under acting mayor Lorenzo Papa. Conducted under universal male suffrage, the elections witnessed the emergence of new mass political movements, notably the Italian Socialist Party and Don Luigi…
GN Magazine – September 2026
Welcome to the digital edition of GN Magazine – September 2026. Here you will find the complete English translations of the main articles published in the print edition, bringing the history, culture, and events of Lake Garda to our international readers. Editorial: Summer at the Finish Line, The Resilience of Lake Garda and Future Challenges…
Curzio Malaparte: A Cursed Tuscan and His Final Literary Journey
Curzio Malaparte (Kurt Erich Suckert) remains one of the most provocative, nonconformist literary giants of 20th-century Italian culture, immortalized in his masterpieces Kaputt, The Skin, and Maledetti Toscani. Reflecting on the fierce pride, sharp wit, and unyielding independence of Prato and Tuscan heritage, Malaparte dismantled hypocrisy with unsparing intellect. In his final months following his…
Water Management on Lake Garda: Summer 2026 Climate and Water Balance
Water Management on Lake Garda faced a defining test during the summer of 2026, as intense, persistent heatwaves pushed climatic conditions across northern Italy to historical extremes. While the Po River saw its flow drop close to all-time record lows with seawater intruding significantly up the delta, Lake Garda maintained a water volume close to…
A Book for Don Gianni Capra: The Beloved Provost Who Transformed Salò
A new landmark publication honours Don Gianni Capra, who served as provost and parish priest of Salò from 1965 to 1971, leaving an indelible legacy of dialogue, humility, and pastoral renewal. Published through the joint dedication of the Parish, Municipality, and Ateneo di Salò, the volume gathers historical conference proceedings and archival writings from the…
TOURIST! Exhibition at MuSa Salò: The Charm of Lake Garda Travel
The TOURIST! Exhibition at MuSa Salò welcomes visitors with Stendhal’s famous words—“probably the most beautiful landscape in the world”—and Goethe’s 1786 sketches of Torbole, tracing two centuries of allure across Lake Garda from Romanticism to the Belle Époque. Open until October 4, 2026 at the MuSa (Museo di Salò), the exhibition curated by P. Boifava…
