Museo del Bergamotto [ENG]

AudioZoom® by eArs. Giant ship photoImage of a ship docked at the Harbour of Messina, created as a “free harbour” by Emperor Ferdinand II of Bourbon, a far-sighted ruler of the time.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Giant photo of an entrepreneurial familyPortrait of a family of entrepreneurs from Reggio operating in the production and trade of bergamot from Reggio Calabria, highlighting international trade relations. The clothing of the owners and workers, together with the context, testifies to the prosperity of the territory. The six-pointed star represents the letter “V” of the initials of the Vilardi family .

AudioZoom® by eArs. Secretarial and administrative equipmentEquipment used to advertise the high quality of companies operating in the sector since the early 1800s.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Label CollectionCollection of artistic and characteristic labels, used to personalize the " ramiere " before shipping. The presence of brands of Sicilian companies is significant.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Preserved BergamotsBergamots preserved in a water solution, which inspired the creation of the first "ACQUA ADMIRABILIS" (admirable water).

AudioZoom® by eArs. First chemical laboratoryChemical laboratory created for the certification of the DPO Essential Oil of Bergamot of Reggio Calabria , wanted by the buyers to guarantee the quality of the product.

AudioZoom® by eArs. "Ramiere a giara"Jar-shaped copper containers, called " Ramiere ", used to store bergamot essential oil in warehouses, manufactured in Reggio Calabria and its province. Note the particular artistic workmanship.

AudioZoom® by eArs. “Saccoccio ” of broomA bag made with broom fibre, based on a particular local method, with which artifacts, carpets, blankets and curtains were also made, because it is as resistant as nylon. In this case used to filter the Bergamot Essential Oil. The bag filled with the waste of the product abraded from the peel, was inserted into the "cone extractors" called “colaturi ” of copper , used to extract every last drop of essential oil.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Press screwTool used for extracting bergamot juice, carried on ships to combat scurvy in sailors, due to a lack of vitamin C, or to fix the colors of fabrics.

AudioZoom® by eArs. "Ramiere" for shippingCopper containers, called " Ramiere ", used to ship Bergamot Essential Oil all over the world, manufactured in Reggio Calabria and its province.

AudioZoom® by eArs. The first extraction machineInvented by Nicola Barillà in 1844, the "Macchina Calabrese" (Calabrian machine) was the first machine for extracting Bergamot Essential Oil. From the hand crank version, it evolved to the steam version, then the combustion version, and finally the wood version with a Marelli engine. The iron machines date back to the early 1960s and were all made in Reggio Calabria.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Traditional tools for extractionThe " Roncola "(billhook), the " Rastrello " (a particular spoon), the Spugna (loofah sponge), the " Ramiera " (copper container) and the " Concolina " (terracotta vessel) are tools used for the extraction of the PDO-status-awarded Bergamot  Essential Oil according to the manual "sponge" method, in use until the mid- 17th century . Vincenzo Amodeo , the last of the " Spiritari " (expert workmen involved in the manual extraction of bergamot oil), used this method which required 400 kilograms of Bergamot to obtain 1 kilo of oil; according to the Calabrian method, 200 kilograms are needed.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Spray pumpsSeveral spray pumps were filled with a compound obtained from the maceration of Bergamot leaves, used as a pesticide to protect other plants and garden products.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Bergamot-related craftsThe local production of tools and equipment for the harvesting and processing of Reggio Calabria bergamot included special carts, various objects and, in particular, chestnut baskets also called “coffe” or “sporte”, as iconic items of a province-scaled community economy.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Artisan toolsTools used by local artisans to indicate that, during the Bergamot season, many abandoned their trades to dedicate themselves to the processing of this citrus fruit, considered more profitable.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Old perfumesAmong old perfumes many contain essence of Bergamot of Reggio Calabria, such as the first Eau de Cologne created by the young Italian Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709, at the age of 22. The difference between perfumes made with PDO-status-awarded essential oil of Bergamot of Reggio Calabria  and those oxidized without it, is highlighted.

AudioZoom® by eArs. The “Bergamotes de Nancy” and historic perfumesThe “ Bergamotes de Nancy”, sweets made in France since 1705 with essence of Bergamot from Reggio Calabria, are a cultural symbol for the French and generate a significant economy for the province of Lorraine.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Bergamot peels and healthBergamot peels, used as a defense against infections caused by mosquito bites. Old crafts for health thanks to the exploitation of the properties of the essential oil contained in the peels, which offered protection and well-being through dolls, flowers, whistles, snuffboxes and containers for natural medicines and cooking aromas.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Bergamot-based cosmeticsThe various uses of the Reggio Calabria Bergamot Essential Oil, awarded with PDO-status (“Protected Designation of Origin”), in cosmetology, such as in shower gels, shampoos, body creams, tanning creams and, above all, as a fixative for perfumes.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Bergamot Food ProductsSome of the first food products based on Bergamot from Reggio Calabria, such as syrups, condiments, juices, beverages, jams/marmalades, honey, sugar-coated almonds (whose Italian name is confetti), sweets, liqueurs and pasta.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Innovative supplementsThe first food supplements based on Bergamot from Reggio Calabria, designed to reduce triglycerides, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, thanks to a particular component present in the juice. Among the most renowned researchers involved in the discovery of the BPF particle, there is Prof. Vincenzo Mollace, Full Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia ”, Italy. Since 2012 he has been Director of the International Research Center for Food Safety and Health. His research activity, carried out in numerous research centers around the world (mainly the William Harvey Research Institute in London directed by Nobel Prize winner Sir John Vane, and Research Fellow and Consultant for Cardiovascular Pharmacology at Metaphore Pharmaceutical Inc St Louis, USA), has mainly concerned the effect of antioxidant compounds in protecting against atherosclerosis and vascular lesions.Prof. Mollace was the first to discover, in 2006, the properties of bergamot juice in experimental models of vascular damage published in prestigious scientific journals. For his scientific activity, Prof. Mollace has been awarded important international prizes and honors. To date, he has published more than 100 articles and book chapters in the field of cardiovascular pharmacology.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Recent productsThese showcases display products created after the start of the awareness-raising activities on the consumption of Bergamot, promoted by the International Academy of Bergamot.

AudioZoom® by eArs. Introduction The International Academy of Bergamot was born from a visionary idea, to promote the use of the bergamot of Reggio Calabria, initially as a fruit and later as a nutraceutical. Until the early 90s, the Bergamot of Reggio Calabria was the victim of a sort of demonization, favored by some industrial and agricultural producers for reasons of economic interest. The fruit was accused of being “imbilinatu ”, poisonous, and therefore inedible. This rumor was a strategy to preserve the precious and rare citrus fruit, preventing farmers and workers from using it for food.The first initiative of the International Academy of Bergamot, under the guidance of founder and president Prof. Vittorio Caminiti , dates back to 1995 with the creation of a bergamot cake, later named “Nosside”. The cake was created by a young and talented pastry chef, Domenico Caminiti , who unfortunately passed away tragically at a young age. The International Academy of Bergamot is committed to promoting this cake as a tool to dispel the negative myth about bergamot. Subsequently, the International Academy of Bergamot initially began, by inviting personalities from the world of haute cuisine to Reggio Calabria, to learn about the fruit and encourage its use. The first to respond to the invitation was the renowned pastry chef from Puglia Berardi, followed by the famous chef Gianfranco Vissani. Since then, numerous gastronomes, journalists, actors, scientists, researchers and even world champions of sports, Oscar winners and Nobel Prize winners, have come to Reggio Calabria to join the Academy's project. These illustrious guests have agreed to study, experiment and promote bergamot, taking on the role of Ambassadors of the International Academy of Bergamot of Reggio Calabria.