The Feltrinelli Family

In 1895, interested in the textile sector, Giacomo Feltrinelli founded the Società Cotonificio Feltrinelli e C., based in Milan, of which he was the sole general partner and manager, with an initial capital of 1,350,000 lire. On this occasion, Giacomo called on the entire family to subscribe, as simple limited partners, the shares needed to get the operation underway, and chose Campione del Garda as the site for building the spinning plant of the cotton mill, a place reachable only by lake until the 1930s.

The choice of location was determined not only by the availability of labour, but also by the presence of the San Michele stream and its waters, which could be harnessed to produce the hydraulic power needed to run the cotton mill's machinery. At the same time as the factory, houses for the employees were built, following the model of other workers' villages constructed in Italy and Europe.

The company was entrusted to two of the most skilled and trusted managers on a technical and professional level: Giovan Battista Cornati, formerly a proxy at the Crespi cotton mill, and Vittorio Olcese, a very young technician who a few years later would give his name to some of the most dynamic entrepreneurial ventures in the textile sector.

In 1900, Giacomo Feltrinelli ceased to be part of the company as general partner and manager, remaining a simple limited partner; he was later replaced by his nephew Giuseppe Feltrinelli, son of his brother Angelo Feltrinelli (1827 - 1900).

The Feltrinelli did not limit themselves to building a factory, but promoted a model of social development that guaranteed workers dignified living conditions and essential services. This paternalistic approach helped create a cohesive and stable community.

The workers' village of Campione was an advanced example of corporate welfare: houses for families, a school for children, a church, a theatre, a medical clinic and a company store. The Feltrinelli believed that the well-being of workers was fundamental to productivity and social stability.

The legacy of the Feltrinelli family is remembered today not only for its industrial impact, but also for the historical and cultural value it left on the Lake Garda territory.

The Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, based in Milan, continues today to promote culture and research, carrying forward the family's intellectual legacy. The name Feltrinelli has become synonymous with enlightened entrepreneurship and social commitment.