A Leap into the Future: Chronicles of Iranian Travelers in 19th-Century Turin
JUNE 6th, 2025
Pellegrino Hall, Erik Peterson Library
With contributions from:
Sara Zanotta, University of Turin
Francesco Dragone, University of Turin
Valentina Fusari, University of Turin
In the 19th century, the development of global transportation led to increased mobility between continents, enabling a growing number of people from Asian countries—such as the Qajar Empire (modern-day Iran)—to travel to Europe for diplomatic, educational, commercial, or simply touristic purposes. Turin was among the destinations described in some of the diaries where they recorded these travel experiences, which to them felt like a leap into the future.
In this event, we will reconstruct the Turin accounts of two travelers who arrived in the city from Iran in the 1860s and 1870s: Hajj Sayyah, who passed through during his journey around the world, and Shah Nasser al-Din, who held official meetings there during his first trip to Europe. What do their stories tell us about Piedmont and Turin in the 19th century? How did they perceive the city, its spaces, and its people? Did their presence go unnoticed?
Read more here.
