Museo del Bergamotto [ENG]

AudioZoom®  by  eArs .  Giant ship photo Image 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 family Portrait 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 in...

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

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

AudioZoom® by eArs .  First chemical laboratory Chemical 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 broom A 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 ”...

AudioZoom®  by  eArs .  Press screw Tool 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 shipping Copper 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 machine Invented 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 ma...

AudioZoom®  by  eArs .  Traditional tools for extraction The " 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...

AudioZoom®  by  eArs .  Spray pumps Several 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 crafts The 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 tools Tools 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 perfumes Among 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 perfumes The “ 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 health Bergamot 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 cosmetics The 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 Products Some 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 supplements The 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...

AudioZoom®  by  eArs .  Recent products These 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...