The history of the Vegni family has moved together with the history of Florence since the early years of the 20th century.
The Vegni firm: the first ‘corriere’ [literally courier, forwarding agent] in Florence, was founded in 1904 in Via De’ Cerchi (Piazza della Signoria), which is inside the ancient city centre.
Motor cars did not yet exist, and parcels were transported using barrocci (carts), which were drawn by hand (tranvaini, i.e. trollies).
In 1907 Luigi Vegni, the founder, acquired his first horse-drawn cart, and had a stable behind Piazza della Signoria. He used porters who met in Via delle Farine (at the corner with Via Condotta), whom he paid on a daily basis.
As the firm was the first corriere in Florence, there was a great deal of work involved, and numerous branches were then opened: in Leghorn, Viareggio, Trieste, Arezzo, Bologna, Milano, Paris, and others.
In 1923 a governmental law that forbade private firms to transport parcels weighing less than 20 kg favoured the birth of the first professional association, the Associazione Corrieri e Cavalanti d’Italia. Luigi Vegni became its President for the Florentine territory. After numerous meetings in Rome, he obtained from the Ministry a concession for the transportation of parcels weighing less than 20 kg, subject to the payment of a tax.
Always in 1923 the first transporter, the 18 BL (“Bello Lungo”), arrived for the Viareggio to Florence stretch. In 1924, the Lazzi company began transporting passengers from Florence to Abetone, leaving from Piazza della Signoria, and the Vegni firm served both as a ticket office and for passenger control.
In 1926 Mario Alberto Vegni began working as courier for the Florence-Arezzo stretch. He was 14 years old, and his work consisted of travelling there by train, accompanying the parcels, which were placed in bags and sent as luggage. In 1930 the line for Bologna was initiated.
During the fascist regime, Luigi Vegni wanted to name one of his firms “Vegni Florentia Express”, but was not permitted to register it using the foreign word. He therefore opted for “Vegni Espresso”.
Over time, there was an increase in the number of transporters used and stretches served. The invention of the diesel engine marked a turning point for the technology of transportation systems.
Today the firm is managed by Massimiliano and his sister Vanessa, and has a business philosophy that is totally oriented at enhancing the individual:
Behind every parcel sent there are at least “two persons”:
one who sends it and one who awaits it…
Thus, a shipment must be constantly monitored and immediately traceable, without the intermediation of a call centre.
For four generations, this centralisation of information has guaranteed a completely trustworthy service.
