How Italy's most influential newspaper shaped a nation from its Milanese headquarters
In short: Known as the Via Solferino newspaper, Corriere della Sera has served as Italy's national newspaper of record since 1876. From its origins as an evening courier to its role in leaking critical pandemic decrees, this institution has mirrored the country's complex political shifts, industrial growth, and cultural evolution.
Founded on March 5, 1876, by Eugenio Torelli Viollier, Corriere della Sera began as an evening paper in Milan. By the early 20th century, under the leadership of Luigi Albertini, it had become Italy’s most widely read publication, boasting a circulation exceeding one million copies. Albertini, a staunch opponent of socialism and the fascist regime, eventually saw his tenure end in 1925 when he was ousted by co-owners. The paper’s trajectory throughout the 20th century was deeply intertwined with Italy's political volatility, including a period of support for Fascism that led to a post-war rebranding as Il Nuovo Corriere della Sera between 1946 and 1959.
The newspaper has long functioned as the voice of Italy's moderate bourgeoisie, maintaining a centre-right leaning while hosting diverse intellectual contributions. Its pages have featured luminaries such as Dino Buzzati, Italo Calvino, and Pier Paolo Pasolini. Beyond its editorial content, the paper pioneered Italian media trends, introducing the first children's comic supplement, Corriere dei Piccoli, in 1908, and launching the influential weekly magazine Sette in 1987. Its cultural legacy is further cemented by the Terza pagina, a dedicated cultural survey that once showcased the prestigious Elzeviro article.
The institution has not been immune to controversy. In 1981, it was implicated in the Propaganda Due scandal, which revealed that its editor and former owner were members of a secret Freemason lodge. Despite such challenges, it remains a pillar of Italian journalism. Categorized by scholar Angelo Agostini as an institution daily, it distinguishes itself from activist or agenda-driven outlets. Today, it continues to adapt, transitioning from a broadsheet to the Berliner format in 2014 and maintaining a massive digital presence that attracts millions of readers, proving its enduring relevance in the modern era.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Corriere della Sera
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