Corriere della Sera: Italy’s Top Newspaper History & News

When Eugenio Torelli Viollier launched Italy’s first daily evening paper in a rented Milan gallery in 1876, he could hardly have imagined his creation would still be going strong a century and a half later. Corriere della Sera has outlived empires, fascist regimes, and a full transition from print to digital—all while remaining Italy’s most widely read daily newspaper.

Founded: 1876 · Headquarters: Milan, Italy · Founder: Eugenio Torelli Viollier · Facebook Followers: 3.9 million · Primary Focus: News, Politics, Economy, Sports

What is Corriere della Sera?

Corriere della Sera stands as Italy’s most widely read daily newspaper, a Milan-based institution that has been delivering news, politics, economy, and sports coverage since 1876. The publication maintains headquarters at Via Solferino—a location so central to its identity that Italians often simply call it “the Via Solferino newspaper.” Its masthead has remained unchanged since the first edition rolled off the press on 5 March 1876, making it one of the world’s oldest continuously operating newspaper mastheads.

The paper originally launched as an evening publication but eventually transitioned to morning delivery while retaining its evening-derived name. Eugenio Torelli Viollier, who founded and directed the newspaper for approximately 20 years, established an editorial tradition emphasizing objective reporting and independence. According to Britannica’s entry on the publication, Corriere followed an independent-centrist editorial policy for decades, with the exception of the fascist era.

Meaning in English

The title “Corriere della Sera” translates roughly to “Evening Courier” or “Evening Messenger” in English. Despite its morning delivery schedule, the name reflects its origins as an evening paper when Torelli Viollier first published it from rented rooms in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan.

Publication details

Under Luigi Albertini, who joined as secretary of the editorial board in September 1896, the newspaper expanded dramatically and reached circulation over 1 million between 1900 and 1925, becoming Italy’s most widely read newspaper. The Crespi family, who acquired Corriere in 1885, granted editorial independence—a decision that proved foundational to its reputation for journalistic independence.

When was Corriere della Sera founded and what is its history?

Corriere della Sera published its first issue on 5 March 1876 in Milan, launched by Eugenio Torelli Viollier along with co-founder Riccardo Pavesi. Pavesi departed just 13 days after launch to serve in the Chamber of Deputies, leaving Torelli Viollier to guide the paper through its crucial early years. Storie Milanesi documents that the first issue appeared on the afternoon of the first Sunday in Lent, initially printed from rented rooms in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele before the paper found its footing.

A prior newspaper bearing the same name operated in Turin in 1866, founded by Giuseppe Rovelli, but it ceased after only two issues due to lack of funds. The Milan Corriere that survives today represents a separate founding, not a continuation of the Turin endeavor.

Founding year and founder

Eugenio Torelli Viollier directed the paper for about 20 years, establishing its editorial voice and independence traditions. The paper moved to Via Pietro Verri in 1889, with the building owned by the Crespi family, who had acquired the publication in 1885. By 1900, the paper was supported largely by the Lombard bourgeoisie, with B. Crespi holding significant ownership.

Key milestones

The newspaper began publishing two editions daily from 1886, expanding to three editions by 1890. La Domenica del Corriere, the iconic weekly illustrated supplement, launched in 1899 and became a cultural institution in its own right. In 1904, the publication moved into purpose-built headquarters at Via Solferino 28 in the Brera district, designed by architect Luca Beltrami.

Luigi Albertini’s appointment as secretary of the editorial board in September 1896 marked the beginning of Corriere’s golden era. Coverage of King Vittorio Emanuele II’s death in 1878 reportedly boosted sales from 3,000 to 5,000 copies, demonstrating how major news events could drive readership even in the paper’s infancy.

What does the Corriere della Sera front page look like?

The front page of Corriere della Sera reflects its status as a general-interest national daily, typically featuring prominent coverage of breaking news, political developments, and economic analysis. The paper organizes content into clearly defined sections: Cronaca (news), Politica (politics), and Economia (economy), alongside dedicated Sport coverage that attracts significant readership.

The publication updates continuously online, offering real-time news coverage through its website corriere.it. The 1973 Declaration of Independence has appeared on the front page as a recurring statement of editorial values, underscoring the paper’s commitment to objective journalism.

Typical content

Beyond daily news, Corriere features investigative reports, opinion columns, cultural criticism, and lifestyle content. La Domenica del Corriere, the Sunday supplement, historically included illustrated features and literary content that reached beyond traditional news coverage.

Daily updates

The online edition provides continuous updates throughout the day, allowing readers to access the latest news from Italy and international sources. The paper’s digital presence now includes an English section, expanding its reach to non-Italian speakers interested in Italian affairs.

How to access Corriere della Sera online and via app?

The official website corriere.it serves as the primary digital access point for the publication, offering news, analysis, and multimedia content. The site features a dedicated English section that provides selected content translated for international audiences, though full access to the complete archive requires subscription.

The Corriere della Sera app is available through Google Play, allowing mobile readers to access the publication’s content on smartphones and tablets. The app provides a streamlined reading experience with notifications for breaking news.

Official website

Readers can access corriere.it for comprehensive news coverage spanning politics, economics, culture, and sports. The website integrates multimedia content including video reports from the Corriere YouTube channel, which provides visual journalism for audiences preferring video format.

YouTube and app

The YouTube presence complements the written content, featuring news updates, interviews, and documentary-style reports. The mobile app offers offline reading capabilities and personalized news feeds for subscribers, reflecting the publication’s multi-platform strategy as it continues its evolution from print to digital-first operations.

Corriere della Sera compared to other Italian newspapers?

Corriere della Sera ranks among Italy’s oldest newspapers, behind only Il Sole 24 Ore (founded 1865) and La Stampa (founded 1866) in continuous publication history. The paper’s Milan origins and Lombard bourgeoisie support gave it a distinct northern Italian character while expanding to national reach.

As of recent data, Corriere remains Italy’s most read newspaper by circulation, with average print and digital readership exceeding competitors. Its 2023 circulation of 246,278 copies positions it ahead of La Stampa, Il Messaggero, and La Repubblica in the daily newspaper landscape.

La Stampa

Founded in 1866 in Turin, La Stampa predates Corriere by a decade, making it one of Italy’s oldest continuously published newspapers. The two publications represent distinct regional identities, with La Stampa maintaining its Piedmontese roots while Corriere reflects Milanese business and culture.

Il Messaggero

Based in Rome, Il Messaggero represents another major Italian daily, though it targets a different readership demographic focused more heavily on Lazio and central Italy news. Corriere’s stronger national and international coverage gives it broader appeal across Italian regions.

ANSA news agency

ANSA operates as Italy’s primary wire service, providing news content that Corriere and other publications republish or reference. Unlike Corriere’s independent editorial operation, ANSA functions as a neutral news supplier to the Italian media ecosystem.

La Repubblica

La Repubblica, founded in 1976, represents a younger publication that challenged Corriere’s dominance in the late 20th century. While La Repubblica appeals to more progressive readers, Corriere maintains its centrist, conservative readership centered in Lombardy and northern business circles.

What people are saying

Umberto Torelli Viollier, early contributor: “We take pride in being objective; we take pride in reminding ourselves that you, the public…want to be given exact information; we take pride in maintaining our freedom of judgment, even with our closest friends.”

Luciano Fontana, editor-in-chief (2015–present): “Over the past 150 years the newspaper has transformed into a multi-platform media outlet without ever sacrificing its pursuit of verified facts, objective stories, and independent and non-biased opinions.”

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Frequently asked questions