He was 78 years old and had presided over the family estate in Carmignano since 2009. A leading figure in the field of oral history research in Italy, he combined his cultural commitment with the responsibility of guiding Capezzana into its fifth generation, while maintaining a deep connection to the region’s heritage.
Giovanni Contini Bonacossi, president of the Tenuta di Capezzana, passed away on Sunday, November 8, at his home in Galluzzo, Florence. He was 78 years old. The news was announced by his family, who remember his composure, his cultural depth, and his role as a guiding figure in the estate’s history.
As president since 2009, when he succeeded his father Ugo, he had overseen the transition from the fourth to the fifth generation of the Contini Bonacossi family. His dedication was intertwined with his deep knowledge of the Carmignano area, which he had furthered through decades of interviews with its residents, all of which were compiled in the Archive of Rural Culture.
The Historian and His Connection to the Region’s
Collective
Memory
Alongside wine, historical research had shaped his life. As one of Italy’s leading scholars of oral history, he focused on labor, sharecropping, and the memory of Nazi-Fascist massacres. His works include *La memoria divisa* and *Aristocrazia contadina*. Since 2020, he had served as president of the Historical Institute of the Resistance and Contemporary History in Pistoia.
In remembering him, the Institute highlighted his openness to engaging with young researchers, whom he also welcomed to Capezzana for meetings where scientific discussion and camaraderie went hand in hand. This trait underscores the connection between his work as a scholar and the family estate.
He is survived by his wife, Giuseppina, and his son, Leone. The funeral will be held privately.
