Vittorio Cini

Vittorio Cini, Conte di Monselice (20 February 1885 – 18 September 1977) was an Italian industrialist and politician, Senator from 1934 to 1943 and minister of communications of the Kingdom of Italy from February to July 1943. He was among the richest people in Italy in his time.

Biography The son of Giorgio Cini, a pharmacist from Ferrara, and of Eugenia Berti, he inherited from his father some trachyte quarries in Veneto and some lands in the Ferrara area. After studying economics and commerce in Switzerland, he was the first to undertake important reclamation works in Italy (Pineta di Destra and Giussago), wrestling land from the erosion caused by the sea. He also carried out canalization works and designed a network for the inland navigation of the Po Valley. In 1918 he married actress Lyda Borelli, who gave him one son, Giorgio (born in 1918), and three daughters, Minna (born in 1920), Yana and Ylda (twins, born in 1924).

After fighting in the First World War, Cini dedicated himself to enhancing his adopted city, Venice, laying the foundations for the construction of the port of Marghera. In the period between the two wars Cini, along with his fraternal friend Giuseppe Volpi, was one of the main exponents of the so-called "Venetian group" of businesspeople, of which he was considered the "financial mind". His business activities developed mainly in the financial, steel, electrical, maritime, tourism and insurance sectors. He was later entrusted with the management of the ILVA steelworks, which was in poor economic conditions. He served on the board of directors of SADE from 1924 to 1943, and from 1936 to 1943 he was Commissioner-General of the Universal Exposition of Rome, which however never took place due to the outbreak of World War II. In the same period he also joined the National Fascist Party, becoming a Senator in 1934. On 16 May 1940 he was awarded the title of Count of Monselice.

He died in Venice on 18 September 1977 and was buried in the monumental cemetery of the Certosa di Ferrara.