Archivissima 2026: Generali brings its Historical Archive immersive experience to Trieste

Trieste came back to life through memory and innovation thanks to the Generali Historical Archive, at the heart of the Group’s participation in Archivissima 2026. Wearing a VR headset and finding oneself in the streets of 1831, among port activities and neoclassical architecture, was the starting point of an experience that turned history into an immersive narrative.

As part of Archivissima, the Italian festival dedicated to promoting archives – which originated in Turin and is now held throughout the country – Generali presented an immersive experience in Trieste that combined historical heritage, digital innovation and urban storytelling, making over 190 years of history accessible to a wide audience.

The theme of this year’s edition, “Quello che non c’è” (“What is not there”), invited visitors to explore what is no longer visible but still shapes the present.

At the core of Generali’s participation was the development of a virtual reality experience titled “The future where it all began”, allowing visitors to explore Trieste as it was in 1831, the year the Company was founded. This was not just about observation: visitors moved through the streets, encountered landmark locations such as the Canal Grande and Palazzo Carciotti, and experienced the rhythm of a city in transformation.

This way, the past was no longer simply something to consult, but something to experience and live first-hand.

The project is part of the ongoing digitisation journey of the Generali Historical Archive, which integrates open-source tools, international standards and artificial intelligence technologies to broaden access to its content.

Alongside the digital experience, Generali also curated a city itinerary highlighting Trieste’s architectural and cultural heritage. Guided tours included some of the most representative sites of the city’s economic and cultural development, retracing the connection between architecture, commerce and the origins of Generali - from Teatro Giuseppe Verdi to Palazzo della Borsa and Palazzo Carciotti, the Company’s first headquarters and recently acquired by the Group.

Palazzo Carciotti played a particularly significant role. As Generali’s headquarters from 1831 to 1866 and a point of connection between origin and future, it is now at the centre of a regeneration project that will see it become the home of the AgorAI Innovation Hub - a public-private ecosystem focused on developing human-centred artificial intelligence solutions with real-world impact.

The programme concluded with a special evening opening of Palazzo Berlam, home to the Historical Archive, where visitors could access original documents, including the Articles of Association of Assicurazioni Generali Austro-Italiche and other records relating to the Company’s foundation.

Now in its fifth year of participation, Generali’s presence at Archivissima reflects the Group’s commitment to initiatives that make historical heritage accessible to a broader, non-specialist audience. In this context, corporate memory is recognised as a common good, capable of generating knowledge and value for society.

The Generali Historical Archive is one of the leading corporate archives in Europe. It preserves tangible traces of over 190 years of history: more than 10 kilometres of records, alongside photographs, posters and artefacts that document the evolution of the Group and the context in which it operated, spanning more than two centuries of economic and social history.

This heritage represents a key resource for understanding the evolution of the Group and its role in international contexts, as well as a reference point for scholars, researchers and the wider public.
Today, the Archive continues its digital transformation journey, with the aim of making its content increasingly accessible through innovative tools and approaches.

To learn more about the Group’s historical heritage and related initiatives, visit: Generali Historical Archive.