A primary focus of the ICBIE mission is to nurture the cultural ties between Brazil and Italy, and the many conferences, seminars and encounters that the ICBIE has offered during the past three years have brought honor to the institute, as well as a growing respect from other cultural institutions and scholars, both in Brazil and abroad. So when ICBIE president Pietro Gallina learned of the new book by Riccardo Fontana, a historical research entitled Giovan Vincenzo Sanfelice, Conde de Bagnoli defensor da Bahia, he was able to convince the Historic and Geographic Institute of Bahia, located in the Salvador city center, and precisely on Av. sete de setembro, 94, Piedade, to host a formal book launch. It is scheduled for tomorrow evening at 6 PM.
The book reconstructs an important moment in Brazilian history. In 1624, the Dutch had wrested Salvador, which at that time was arguably the most important city in the New World, from the Portuguese. In 1638, the Neapolitan commander Giovan Vincenzo Sanfelice reconquered the city from the Dutch, restoring Portuguese rule. King Felipe IV (who was King of Spain, Portugal and the Spanish Netherlands, and is today familiar thanks to the his famous full portrait by Velasquez) awarded him the title of Count of Bagnoli. Posthumously, he was even given the title Prince of Monteverde. Fontana’s book will help to restore this incident, which truly had global consequences, to its rightful place in the mainstream of Brazilian historiography.
This study is part of Riccardo Fontana’s lifelong efforts to reveal the accomplishments of obscure Italians who played a decisive role in Brazilian history. His other discoveries include Count Stradelli and General Napione, but also he has contributed to the understanding of Amerigo Vespucci and other cartographers, engineers, architects and military figures.
