Practice, Empiricism and Science Inside the Corpo Degli Ingegneri Pontifici

In 1817 Pope Pio VII passed an administrative reform which reorganized the sector regarding waters and roads in the Papal States. In this reform, he establish the institution of the “Corpo degli Ingegneri Pontifici di Acque e Strade” resuming the organization of the Bureau des Ponts, arges et travaux publics appointed to control the management of roads, waters and buildings in Rome and in entire Papal States during the Napoleonic occupation. After examining the 345 curricula presented in 1817 for a competition to select 83 engineers to form the new Corps, and following the activity of Giuseppe Della Gatta, recruited as head of the District of Ancona, this study wants to stress the contemporary presence of empiricism and science in the training/professional career and daily practice of the engineer. Consequently, the study tests in detail works realized by Della Gatta in Ancona's port, and on bridges, roads, coasts and buildings of that province.