Guglielmo marconi

in front of the future

3.

How the San Cataldo Lighthouse became a hub for telecommunications

In 1904, the world’s eyes turned to Bari, chosen by Guglielmo Marconi as the ideal location for the experimental transmission of the first wireless telegraph signals. A far-sighted choice, dictated by the city’s strategic position on the Adriatic Sea and its role as an important commercial hub. Two transmitters were installed: one near the San Cataldo lighthouse, a symbol of guidance and progress, and the other in nearby Montenegro, demonstrating the revolutionary potential of this new technology.

On August 3, 1904, the world witnessed a historic event: the inauguration of the first wireless telegraphic link via ether for commercial purposes. Bari and Antivari (Bar), in Montenegro, on the opposite shore of the Adriatic, were connected by an invisible network of radio waves, opening the way to a new era of communication.

This event marked a decisive moment in the history of Bari. In the beginning of the century, the city became one of the first in the world to have a wireless communication system available for commercial use, reaffirming its mercantile vocation and anticipating the central role it would play in the 20th-century telecommunications landscape.

Marconi’s choice and the success of the 1904 radiotelegraphic experiment started a long-lasting legacy in Bari. The city became a hub for research and development in the field of telecommunications, attracting scientists and engineers from all over the world. The traces of this glorious past are still visible in Bari. The San Cataldo Lighthouse, a silent witness to the Marconi revolution, continues to watch over the city, while the legacy of Guglielmo Marconi is kept inside the museum located near the lighthouse.

4.
History of the san cataldo neighborhood

Visit the Waterfront!

oppure

in front of the future

3.