Il ruolo della tipografia nell'arte cartografica - il caso del Touring Club Italiano

Cartography is a powerful means of communication that has always represented the scientific, technical and artistic knowledge of the known world. The relationship between cartography and writing, although close, is often overlooked in historical analyses. In addition to the representation of geographical features, typography plays a crucial role in the legibility of maps. In particular, the Touring Club Italiano (TCI) played a key role in Italian cartography, establishing its own Cartographic Office in 1914 and later the School-Laboratory to train cartographers. The School-laboratory, active for over sixty years, has been little documented. This research aims to bring to light the work done within, using documents from the TCI Historical Archives and testimonies of former students. The organization of the school, the techniques used in map production and the origin of the typefaces are explored. The ultimate goal is the creation of a typeface revival inspired by the calligraphic exercises of the School-laboratory, adapted to current needs. This thesis aims to recover a part of the history of the Touring Club, highlighting the contribution of typography in the art of cartography and demonstrating its importance in the understanding and use of maps.