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The Morpurgo Parente enclosure

Constantinople, Tuesday October 26th 1869

[…]

You can’t take a step without meeting 100 dogs, but they’re just as kind as they’re ugly. The harbour’s bustle is amazing, maybe London could be more busy, but I think it’s impossible.

Elio is doing very well, while we were on the caique, he had a horse ride with his son Marco. They both entrust me to send you their best regards.

Dear Elisa, only one thing lessens the pain of not having you here – and that’s Constantinople’s cobblestones, the huge uninterrupted slopes and immense distances. […]

Since I’ve been born I have never suffered this much while walking, just know that T[rieste]’s cobblestones are a «wonder», if compared to Constantinople’s pavement. […]

Now I’m being summoned, I apologise for boring you so much, but I feel the need to linger with you, my beloved family, and describe my impressions of Constantinople. Hug for me the dear Virginia, Maria, Emilia, Eduardo and my beloved grandchildren, especially my beautiful little sailor.

Send this letter to the dear daughters in Paris that will forward it to Madrid, should Ida have left. All the best to my Cuddly I dreamt was giving me one of his precious kisses! But it was a dream!

Wholeheartedly hugging you,

Pepi

[Diario del Canale di Suez 1869. 36 Lettere di Giuseppe de Morpurgo alla famiglia, Edizioni Dedolibri, Trieste 1998, pp. 6-7] 

Built in 1870 on a design by architect Machiachini, this enclosure holds 20 tombs and memorial plaques of members of four generations of the Morpurgo Parente family. From the union of these families, among Trieste’s most important and influential in the 1800s, came bankers, exporters or, as it was the case for baron Giuseppe de Morpurgo, directors of  Assicurazioni Generali and other prestigious city institutions.

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