The Rionerese member of parliament had often described to Mr Zanardelli the conditions of extreme poverty and backwardness in southern Italy, so much so that he convinced Zanardelli, President of the Council of Ministers, to make the famous trip to Basilicata in 1902 in order to get to know "de visu" the real socio-economic conditions of our region.
From 26 to 29 September 1902, during the long and arduous journey undertaken to get to know at first hand the problems of Southern Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Zanardelli was the guest of Giustino Fortunato, a politician and historian born in Rionero and one of the most important representatives of Southern Italy.
"The Hon. le Zanardelli,' reported the Tribuna di Roma on 28 September 1902, 'left Melfi yesterday and arrived here in Rionero before midnight. He was accompanied by Ciuffelli, Talamo, Fortunato, Granturco, Lacava, Pavoncelli and Torraca. All of them are guests at Fortunato's house. A large crowd welcomed the minister, who will stay here today and tomorrow to rest and meditate on the speech he will give in Potenza the day after tomorrow. The weather has improved". "In the evening of 28th September there was a sumptuous lunch in Fortunato's house in honour of the Prime Minister, attended by the local authorities, the mayors of the Mandamento and the deputies gathered here".
"Eugenio Brienza, the mayor of Rionero, spoke in the name of his fellow countrymen and praised Giuseppe Zanardelli's patriotism, wishing him to remain at the head of the government for the good of Southern Italy. He was followed by Mr Granturco, who said that he had suggested to Giustino Fortunato that he write the last volumes of the precious historical series in Zanardelli's honour, in which he illustrated his native Vitalba valley with a singular magisterium of historian and artist. Deeply moved, the President of the Council stood up in his turn, and reaffirming his resolute will to do everything possible for the good of these regions, and thanking Hon. Granturco for his words, who was bound to him by bonds of ancient affectionate friendship, he drank a toast to Melfi, to Rionero, to the hospitable home of his dear friend Fortunato". "Fortunato replied, with moving simplicity, that the greatest honour of his house would be to have hosted Giuseppe Zanardelli'.
A small plaque, placed on the wall of the elegant marble staircase leading to the upper floor of the palace, recalls the brief stay of the illustrious guest who "investigated the ills of Basilicata here and pondered measures to alleviate them".
See “Giuseppe Zanardelli and Giustino Fortunato” Michele Traficante - SIDERURGIKA TV web
He arrived in Melfi on 26 September in the late afternoon after honouring Rocchetta Sant'Antonio with a brief stopover. The evening banquet was preceded by a speech by the Honourable Giustino Fortunato, who expressed his admiration for Zanardelli's rectitude and courage. After dinner, the President took a train to Rionero in Vulture, where he was housed in the Fortunato family palace. Over the next two days, the presidential agenda became less busy. There was no shortage of delegations, but Zanardelli, protected by the attentive hospitality of his friend Fortunato, reserved some time to reflect on his recent experience and write the final speech to be delivered in Potenza.
"With the most conscientious accuracy I have questioned the representatives of the districts and municipalities, not only of the towns I visited, but also of those where I did not go and whose representatives came to join me on my way: I have questioned Provincial Councillors, Mayors, Municipal Councils.
Government, judicial and financial authorities. I questioned doctors, teachers, school inspectors, presidents and members of charitable congregations and workers' associations and landowners and peasants. I questioned them about the facts and heard their opinions on the remedies. I received from a great many municipalities, associations and institutes a huge number of memos, which I took a quick look at in the last few days and which I will study lovingly in Rome.
…
On his return to Rome, Zanardelli immediately set about fulfilling his commitment to analyse the memoranda collected during his trip. In agreement with the Minister of Public Works, he therefore entrusted engineer Eugenio Saint Just, head of the Civil Engineering Department in Cagliari, with the task of drawing from the memoranda the elements to outline a strategy for intervention, distinguishing between immediate and more structural measures. The accurate study conducted by Saint Just formed the core of the special law for Basilicata, presented to the Chamber in June 1903. Unfortunately, the elderly Prime Minister was unable to follow the progress of the law that he had so determinedly wanted. In November his already precarious health worsened, forcing him to resign, and a month later he died, without having been able to see the full fruits of the liberal turn he had taken in Italian politics. A tangible testimony of the policy inaugurated by Zanardelli in favour of the Lucanian communities, is the archival fund of the Civil Commissariat for Basilicata, established by the Basilicata law of 31 March 1904, n. 14017, also known as Zanardelli law. It allowed the management of funds, the planning, design and implementation of modernisation and infrastructural works in the region. In the Vulture area, in the district of Atella, there were various public works of consolidation, roads, hydraulic systems and land reclamation. The commissariat was abolished in 1923.
See Zanardelli in Basilicata – by Roberto Poggi
