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Genoa Expo '92

Coordinates: 44°24′37″N 8°55′35″E / 44.4103°N 8.9264°E / 44.4103; 8.9264
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1992 Genoa
Overview
BIE-classSpecialized exposition
NameChristopher Columbus, The Ship and the Sea
Area6 hectares
Visitors694,800
MascotGatto Cristoforo
Participant(s)
Countries54
Location
Country Italy
CityGenoa
VenuePorto Antico
Timeline
Opening15 May 1992
Closure15 August 1992
Specialized expositions
PreviousExpo 91 in Plovdiv
NextTaejŏn Expo '93 in Daejon
Universal
PreviousExpo '70 in Osaka
NextExpo 2000 in Hanover
Simultaneous
UniversalSeville Expo '92
Horticultural (AIPH)Floriade 1992

L'Esposizione Internazionale Specializzata Genova '92 - Colombo '92 (in English International Exhibition Genoa '92 - Colombo '92) or more informally Expo 1992, was held in Genoa, Italy from 15 May to 15 August 1992. The theme was "Christopher Columbus, The Ship and the Sea", and the Expo was timed to celebrate the 500 years since the discovery of America by the Genoese sailor Christopher Columbus. Because of the theme, the expo was also known as Colombiadi. It was a specialized Exhibition with 54 countries represented. Total visitors were 694,800.[1] The exposition ran at the same time as the larger and longer duration Seville Expo '92, a Universal Exposition, held in the city from whose port (on the Guadalquivir) Columbus had sailed in 1492. The expo's logo was a "500" number with Genoa's flag; the mascot was a cat dressed like Christopher Columbus called "Gatto Cristoforo"

Exposition

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The International Exposition of Genoa '92 was held at the Porto Antico and allowed the entire redesign of the area, designed by the architect Renzo Piano. The aquarium hosted the sea's pavilion and the ship "Italia" hosted the ship's pavilion. Other important places were "Piazza delle Feste", a covered square, the "Magazzini del Cotone" an old port structure that now hosts the conference center, "Porta Siberia" a historical port's fortress and the "Palazzina Millo".

Participants

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54 countries attended the event officially (three unofficially) and, initially, it was announced that the Expo reached about 1.7 million visitors, of 3,000,000 provided,[2] but the count was later revised in only about 800,000 visitors. In the fall of 1992, it was discovered that the actual visitors were less than what was announced at first and that the Ente Colombo, who ran the event, had collected only 13 billion compared to 45 billion planned. Because of the false news circulated and the lack of success of the event, the Mayor Romano Merlo, who was also president of Colombo, resigned and was replaced by Deputy Mayor Claudio Burlando.

The guest of honor was the Government of the Bahamas, where Christopher Columbus first landed in the Americas on the island of Guanahani. Sculptures called "Obelisk" by Alessandro Matta and "Dolphin" by Bruno Elisei were displayed in the Bahamian hall, in homage to Columbus.[3]

Participating Countries
Asia
 China  South Korea  Japan  Israel
Africa
 Cameroon  Egypt  Morocco  Senegal
 Tunisia
Europe
 Bulgaria  CIS  Croatia  France
 Germany  Greece  Hungary  Czech Republic
 Denmark  France  Italy  Malta
 Monaco  Poland  Portugal  Romania
 Spain  Switzerland  Vatican City
Americas
 Argentina  Bahamas  Bolivia  Brazil
 Chile  Colombia  Costa Rica  Cuba
 Dominica  El Salvador  Ecuador  Guatemala
 Haiti  Honduras  Mexico  Nicaragua
 Panama  Paraguay  Peru  Uruguay
 United States  Venezuela
Organizations
European Union European Union

References

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  1. ^ "1992 Genova - Italia". Archived from the original on 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  2. ^ Menti' sull' Expo: sindaco dimissionario, articolo de Il Corriere della Sera, del 22 ottobre 1992
  3. ^ (cat. uff. "Cristoforo Colombo la Nave e il Mare" ed. Ente Colombo "92, - cat. del Pad. ed. San Salvador Development the Bahamas, Commissario Generale delle Bahamas dott. Roberto Savio). (Genova 1992, catalogo Espo "Cristoforo Colombo: la nave e il mare" - Catalogo Padiglione Bahamas " San Salvador development committee the Bahamas"
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44°24′37″N 8°55′35″E / 44.4103°N 8.9264°E / 44.4103; 8.9264