Here, Hugo Banchero, grandson of Giuseppe, tells his story to Veronica Smink, reporter for BBC World Service programme, The Food Chain: Well, my grandfather came from Italy, from Genoa, from Liguria.
In the 12 century economic threats rose in the West as rising Italian Naval powers like Venice and Genoa started cutting Byzantine Empire out of Eastern markets.
Italy's Transport Ministry has begun investigating the private operator of the motorway bridge that collapsed in Genoa on Tuesday killing at least 38 people.