Exploring cultures and communities – the slow way

Polar Quest: Nobile

Italia at North Pole

  • — Date of event: Thursday 24, May 1928 —

Nobile has reached the North Pole!

article summary —

Nobile has reached the North Pole!

Few exploratory voyages have been so trouble-free as the Italia’s outward journey from King’s Bay to the North Pole. True, the weather deteriorated in the final stages, but shortly after midnight (so early morning on 24 May), the airship Italia was hovering over the pole. Unberto Nobile hoisted the cross from the Pope overboard, and sent Pius XI a radio-telegram confirming the success of the Italia mission. The team shared a bottle of Vov, a peculiarly Italian liqueur that affects to be a sort of liquid version of zabajone.

Finn Malmgren was aware that the weather might not be on their side and urged a quick departure, so after hovering at the pole for two hours, Nobile gave the order to make course back south for King’s Bay.

This article was published in Polar Quest: Nobile.

About The Authors

hidden europe

and manage hidden europe, a Berlin-based editorial bureau that supplies text and images to media across Europe. Together they edit hidden europe magazine. Nicky and Susanne are dedicated slow travellers. They delight in discovering the exotic in the everyday.

Comments (0)

Write a comment

All fields are required. Your email-address will not be published when you leave a comment.

Allowed tags: <b><i><br>Add a new comment: