«Di pie fondazioni abbonda lo stato». L’assistenza nel dominio genovese a metà Settecento[«The State abounds in charitable foundations». Poor relief in the territory of the Republic of Genoa in the middle of the Eighteenth century]

Although historians have paid attention to the genesis and evolution of charitable organisations operating in the city of Genoa, little is known as concerns poor relief organisation outside the urban area. Thanks to a report prepared during the year 1743-44 by the Genoese government, we are now able to outline the structure and the organisation of poor relief system in the so-called "Dominio di Terraferma" (the mainland territory of the Republic of Genoa). These data allow us to demonstrate that while charitable organisations operating in the city capital were normally considered “modern” and “efficient”, the situation was profoundly different in the other part of the State, were financial means, and assistance activities was often inadequate to the needs of the population.