Speaker
Description
The former Physics Pavilions of the Mostra d'Oltremare in Naples represent an important chapter in the history of twentieth-century Italian physics. From the late 1950s onward, these buildings hosted the establishment of pioneering activities in theoretical and experimental physics that laid the foundations for the subsequent development of several fields of physics in the city.
After outlining the historical background of the Mostra d'Oltremare and its Physics Pavilions, this contribution focuses on the early development of physics research within them, reconstructing the scientific environment that emerged around the Advanced School in Theoretical and Nuclear Physics and the first experimental programmes carried out within the Physics Pavilions.
Today, although abandoned for more than two decades, the former Physics Pavilions remain a significant testimony to an important component of Naples' scientific and cultural heritage. Their preservation and enhancement are among the main goals of the Association All'Ombra del Cervo di Rodi APS, which promotes their recovery through the creation of a Centre of Excellence for research, technological innovation, and lifelong learning.