Genoa - port of embarkation

[florence]

Hi Nicholas
I have just picked up on the fact that my father, Panos George Livery, as a three month old baby along with his 2 year old brother Con and parents, George & Evangelia embarked at Genoa to come to Australia. Sailing on the Principessa Giovanna, they arrived October 5, 1923 and disembarked at Sydney. They settled in Ingham, North Queensland.

It has got me puzzled, why Genoa? Certainly in the wrong direction for Australia. George worked in the USA for 20 years, before he returned to Castellorizo to marry.

Do you think that George may have had in mind the USA and changed his mind. Do you think his mind was changed for him? Was this the time of Italian immigration restrictions to the USA?
How would they have got to Genoa?

Thanks Florence

[Administrator]

Florence,

You might be right that George was considering migration to the USA but then changed his mind.

Another explanation is that he had arranged his travel either on the island or in Rhodes and was then required to travel to Genoa from where the Principessa Giovanna was departing on what I believe was her maiden voyage.

Here is a photo of the vessel in 1932 when a second funnel was added:



Interestingly, this ship was used for migrant transport until the war, when it was converted to a troop and hospital vessel by the Italian regime. It was captured by the British in 1943 and then used by them in Allied war service. After the war, it was returned to Italy and renamed San Giorgio, whereupon it recommenced migrant carriage to Australia and South America until 1953 when it was broken up.

Quite a story...

Nicholas