The first mailbox in the world, as the plaque states, was approved by the Municipal Council of Castel Gandolfo on November 23, 1820. The related documents are preserved in the Museo storico della Comunicazione inside the Palazzo del Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico in Rome.
L’antica Buca delle Lettere
At that time, when delivery was rather difficult, in Castel Gandolfo the mail arrived in the nearby town of Albano Laziale. There, letters and packages were collected by an employee, who was paid half a baiocco per item. Nevertheless, it was a problem delivering the mail to the various recipients, as the person in charge could neither read nor write. Thus, the Councillor Antonio Jacorossi solved the problem proposing to the Priors of Castel Gandolfo the establishment of the first mailbox.
The QR Code for information on smartphones
To commemorate the bicentenary of the initiative, in 2020, a new plaque was unveiled, bearing a QR code that allows visitors to learn about the history of the mailbox.
Further information will be available on the Municipality official website.