Genoa is the main port of departure of the Kingdom, at least until the early ‘900 when – with the boom of southern emigration – will be added Naples, Messina, Palermo.
But in the 800 the competitors of the port of Genoa are still above all nordeuropei: piemontesi, lombardi, trentini and veneti do not delay to discover that if for the United States part from the Atlantic ports like Le Havre, it is spared almost a
week trip: worth a long train trip if you save on the crossing!
In Genoa they are a great business for shipowners and those who can profit was their own: getting people to Genoa days in advance is a trick adopted by shrewd “travel agents”, in league with unscrupulous hoteliers. Who does not have money to pay bivouac on the street, waiting for the day of departure.