Following the preview at the event celebrating the brand’s 170th anniversary last month, the official launch of the book dedicated to the historic Baglietto shipyard, showcasing its one hundred and seventy years of tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation, took place in Milan at the Rizzoli bookstore on Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Published by Rizzoli, the book features the esteemed work of Antonio Macaluso, a columnist for Corriere della Sera and a boating expert. The event, which concluded with a classic ‘book signing,’ was attended by the author, Antonio Macaluso, and the shipyard’s CEO, Diego Michele Deprati.
Baglietto has a long history as an Italian entrepreneurial excellence and a prestigious luxury maison that demonstrates a unique blend of flair and pragmatism, creating something rare: the perfect balance between classic and modern, technical prowess and aesthetics, merging past and future—a truly winning combination.
Where does craftsmanship end, and art begin? What renders a product or brand impervious to the passing of time and changing fashions? These are the reflective questions we ponder as we traverse through Baglietto’s storied past and vibrant present.
Pietro Baglietto founded the shipyard that bears his name in 1854, establishing it in Varazze. Initially, the yard produced small hulls and fishing boats, but soon, under the founder’s visionary leadership, it pivoted towards yachting. In 1876, the first racing boat, Rosy, a 7.50-meter cutter, was launched and destined to achieve legendary status.
Throughout its history, Baglietto has introduced numerous innovations, notably in high-performance and record-breaking boats, as well as military and defense applications, such as the famous MAS. Among its strongest areas of achievement has been yachting and leisure boating. As early as the dawn of the 19th century, Baglietto was constructing large yachts for significant owners, including King Alfonso XII of Spain, Guglielmo Marconi, composer Gioacchino Puccini, and poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, for whom Alcyone was launched.
After World War II, the yachting sector became central to Baglietto’s production with the ‘Isole’ series yachts, which have become landmarks in the luxury yacht industry and the objects of desire for the world’s most significant owners, including business magnates such as Agnelli and the Aga Khan, royal families like the Ranieris of Monaco, and show business icons like Peter Sellers, to name just a few.
Baglietto continues to bring forth continuous innovations in this realm, enhancing hull design, including the invention of the flying bridge, and the introduction of new, high-performance materials, continually elevating standards in exclusivity, performance, and quality, thus crafting true masterpieces of sailing.
In 2012, Cantieri Baglietto was acquired by the Gavio family, one of Italy’s most solid industrial groups. This marked the beginning of a new era for the company, where experience and tradition converge, merging past and present, and forging a forward-looking perspective towards remarkable achievements. A legacy of 170 years lays the foundation for an exciting challenge towards a future rich in style, technology, and innovation—an anticipated future rather than an imagined one. And the Baglietto seagull—strong, respected, and beloved—soars tirelessly across the globe.