A variety of units of measurement were used in the various independent Italian states and Italian dependencies of foreign empires up to the unification of Italy in the 19th century. The units to measure length, volume, mass, etc., could differ widely between countries or between towns in a country (e.g. Rome and Ancona), but usually not between a country and its capital.
The Kingdom of Sardinia included the island of Sardinia and the continental areas of Piedmont (with the capital Turin) and Liguria (with Genoa). The Kingdom of Naples included the island of Sicily (with Palermo). The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was part of the Austrian Empire, which also shared ruling family with Modena, Parma and Tuscany (capital Florence). The Papal States included the areas of Latium (with the capital Rome), Umbria, Romagna (with Bologna) and the Marches (with Ancona).
Milan adopted the metric system in 1803, during the Napoleonic wars, albeit reusing names of older units. After the Congress of Vienna, the various Italian states reverted to their original systems of measurements.
In 1845 Sardinia passed legislation to introduce the metric system within five years. In 1859 Lombardy (but not Venetia) was annexed. In 1860 Parma, Modena, Tuscany, Umbria, Romagna and the Marches, and the Two Sicilies (Naples) were assimilated into Sardinia and under the Law 132 of 28 July 28, 1861 the metric system became the official system of measurement throughout the (this year) Italian kingdom. The last to be incorporated were Venetia (1866), and the rest of the Papal States (1870).
For historical Roman measurements see Ancient Roman units of measurement. The following is a list of units before the adoption of the metric system as well as local names for metric-based units.
Over time many unit names were reused for metric units, adding an unnecessary obstacle to the system change. These units are marked with €. They are also placed after the traditional.
Units varied from one province or city to another. In the north the atomo was the smallest unit.
Dedicated use: # architect's † commercial ‡ mercer's
1 piede liprando = 0.51377 m 1 punto (point) = piede liprando 1 oncia (inch) = 12 punti 1 piede liprando (foot) = 12 oncie 1 canna = 4 piedi liprando 1 trabucco = canna 1 miglio (mile) = piedi liprando Lombardy–Venetia1 punto = 12 atomi 1 miglio€ = 1 km Milan1 dito (pollico) = 36.27 mm 1 atomo€ = 1 mm Venice1 linea = 10 decimi | Modena1 cavezzo = 6 piedi Naples1 oncia = 5 minuti Sicily1 palmo = 9.5297 in Palermo1 canna = 10 palmi = 2.065 m | Papal States1 palmo# = 12 once = 8.79 in Rome1 oncia# = 10 decimi = 18.6 mm Ancona1 pié = 15.384 in Bologna1 piede = 38 cm Parma1 punto = 12 atomi | Sardinia1 punto = 12 atomi Piedmont1 raso = 14 oncie Turin1 piede = 293 mm Genoa1 palmo = once Tuscany1 quattrino = 4 denari = 9.728 mm Florence1 braccio = 2 palmi = 583 mm |
One libbra (pound) differed between 307 and 398 g.Several countries used both a light and a heavy pound.
Dedicated use: # gold ∆ silver § jewels † apothecaries' ‡ silk @ spices, drugs and pigments ¥ commercial ¢ oil ship cargoes: Σ grain flour etc § salt
1 grano (grain) = libbra 1 carato = 4 grani 1 tomin = 12 grani 1 denaro (scruple) = 24 grani 1 ottavo (drachm) = 3 denari 1 carato = 6 denaro (scrupolo) 1 oncia (ounce) = 8 ottavi 1 oncia = 4 quarto (quarta) 1 libbra (pound) = 12 oncie 1 rubbo = 25 libbre 1 quintale = 4 rubbi 1 cantaro = 6 rubbi 1 cantaro = 100 rotoli Lombardy–Venetia1 denaro#∆ = 24 grani 1 denaro€ = 10 grani Milan1 grano∆‡ (denaro) = 50.998 mg 1 grano€ = 1 dg Venice1 marco = 238.499 g TriesteAustrian, but not part of Lombardy-Venetia. 1 funto (–1858) = 1 Wiener Pfund | Modena1 oncia = 16 ferlini Naples1 scrupolo† = 20 accini Sicily1 taro = 20 grani Palermo1 libbra = 12 once = 317 g | Papal States1 denaro = 24 grani Rome1 denaro∆¥ = 24 grani = 1.178 g Ancona1 libbra = 0.7277 Bologna1 carato = 4 grani Ferrara1 ferlino = 10 carati = 1.80 g Parma1 denaro = 24 grani | Sardinia1 grano‡ = 53.363 mg Piedmont1 grano = 24 granotini Turin1 grano = 24 granotini Genoa1 denaro = 24 grani Cagliari1 libbra di commercio¥ = 406.563 g Tuscany1 denaro = 24 grani Florence1 libbra = 12 once = 339.5 g Lucca1 libbra = 334.5 g |
Dedicated use: # architect's
1 giornata (quadrao) = 38 are 1 tavola = giornata Lombardy–Venetia1 tornatura = 100 palmi2 = 1 are Lombardy1 tavola = 4 trabucchi quadri Venetia1 migliajo = 1000 passi quadrati = 3022.99 m2 | Modena1 cavezzo2 = 36 piedi2 Naples1 canna quadrata (centesimo) = 6.999 m2 Sicily1 canna (quartiglio) = 4.263 m2 | Papal States1 scorzo = 28 catene agrimensorie Parma1 staro = 12 tavola | SardiniaPiedmont1 giornata = 100 pertica2 = 0.9393 acre Tuscany1 saccato = 16500 braccia2 = 1.389 acre |
Dry and wet capacity (volume) were usually two separate systems, but a few units were universally handled, mostly in countries that had had experience with the metric system. (One of the sources do not state what subsystem they are handling).
Dedicated use: # firewood † grain ‡ salt ∆ oats and legumes Σ coal
One mina varied from 12 to 120 litres.Lombardy–Venetia1 pinta€ = 10 coppi = 1 litre Venice1 moggio = 8 mezzeni = 333.3 litres Milan1 moggio = 8 stala = 146.2 litres Modena1 stajo = 1.9978 bushels | Naples1 quarto (–1840) = 6 misuri Sicily1 salma generale = 7.8 bushels Palermo1 salma = 4 bisace = 275 litres | Papal States1 scorzo = 4 quartucci Rome1 decina†‡ = 4.601 L Ancona1 rubbio = 7.974 bushels Bologna1 quarterone = 4 quarticini Parma1 mina = 8 quarteroli | Piedmont1 coppo† = 2.876 L Turin1 copello = 20 cucchiari Genoa1 gombetta = 4 misurette = 1.21 L Tuscany1 quartuccio = 2 bussoli Florence1 moggio = 8 sacca = 584.7 litres |
There are also a unit cantara: no specifics.
Dedicated use: # wine † spirits ‡ oil
Lombardy–Venetia1 pinta€ = 10 coppi = 1 litre Venice1 quartuccio = 4 gotti = 670.7 mL 1 barile#† = 24 bozze = 64.386 L Milan1 mezzo = 2 zaine (bicchieri) = 393.5 mL Trieste1 boccale = 1.83 L Modena1 fiasco = 2 boccali = 0.55028 gallon Naples1 barile#† = 60 caraffi Sicily1 quartuccio = 4 bicchieri = 0.8597 L | Papal States1 foglietta = 4 quartucci Rome1 fogliette = 4 quartucci Ancona1 soma = 18.49 gallons Bologna1 foglietta# = 327 mL | ParmaSee Lombardy–Venetia and Milan. SardiniaPiedmont1 boccale = 2 quartini Turin1 boccale = 2 quartini Genoa1 amola = 4 quarti = 0.8833 L | Tuscany1 mezzetta# = 2 quartucci Florence1 boccale = 1.14 L |
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