Gaia Bruno

Gaia Bruno is a Research Fellow in Modern History at the Department of Humanities, Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She specializes in the history of material culture, urban history, and water history, with a focus on Early Modern Europe. Her current work is associated with the ERC-2018 Advanced Grants project Water-Cultures - The Water Cultures of Italy, 1500-1900 (PI Prof. David Gentilcore).

• Education: PhD in History (specializing in History of European Society) from the University of Naples Federico II (2016)

Her research explores themes such as disasters, communication, politics, and collective interests in Early Modern Europe. She has contributed to significant publications including The Riches of Ancestors. Material Culture of Neapolitan Society in the Eighteenth Century (2022) and The Drawings and Speeches of Giovanni Antonio Nigrone (2024). Bruno also leads the Historical Writing Workshop (FT0530) at Ca' Foscari, guiding students in academic writing and research methodologies.

Recent publications highlight her expertise in:

• Water management and engineering
• Material culture analysis
• Urban jurisdictional systems
• Historical disaster response

She previously held a research fellowship at the University of Naples Federico II on projects related to collective interests and disaster response in Early Modern Europe.