Enrico Alberto d'Albertis

Enrico Alberto d'Albertis (23 March 1846 – 3 March 1932) was an Italian navigator, writer, philologist, ethnologist and philanthropist. His cousin Luigi Maria d'Albertis was also an explorer and naturalists.

Born at Voltri, now part of Genoa, d'Albertis enlisted in the Royal Italian Navy and took part in the Battle of Lissa (1866). Later he served on the battleships Ancona and Formidabile. Later he moved to the Merchant Navy, and was the commander of Emilia, the lead ship of the first Italian convoy in the Suez Canal.

Starting from 1874, he dedicated his life to yachting.

After founding the first Italian Yacht Club in 1879, he recreated Christopher Columbus' journey to San Salvador by sailing two cutters, the Violante and the Corsaro, using nautical instruments he had handcrafted, modeled on the ones used by Columbus. In addition, D'Albertis traveled around the world three times, circumnavigated Africa once, and carried out archaeological digs with Arturo Issel. During World War I, he patrolled as a volunteer in Tyrrhenian Sea, receiving the Merit Cross.

D'Albertis personally designed the Castello d'Albertis, his residence in Genoa, where he showed his personal collection, including, among the others, weapons from his trips to Malaysia, Australia, Turkey, America and Spain. Some rooms were in typical yachts design.

D'Albertis died at Genoa in 1932. His castle and collections were donated to the city of Genoa, who turned them into the Museum of World Cultures.

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