by MK
Every Saturday we’re spotlighting remarkable local females who could change the way we look at the world. This Saturday is Giorgia Bacchia’s turn, paleontology lover, yogi, and an amateur baker in love with her hometown, Trieste.
Co-owner of Trieste-based paleontology company Zoic, who bought the remains of the now world known Triceratops called Big John, Giorgia tells us what it was like coming back to Trieste after years away.
Are you a Triestina?
Yes, I was born here but I went to school in Torino, where my mom lives. I moved back to Trieste for university.
What was that like?
You know, even though I am Triestina by birth, not going to school here made a big difference. I felt like an outsider starting from scratch.
Was it easy to make friends in Trieste after years away?
As I’m sure you know, Triestini are a bit closed at the beginning. But once you really get to know them, they’re splendid folk. You just have to be persistent as everyone’s a little suspicious at the start.
Sure. So the famous Big John, how are you guys connected?
My dad’s paleontology company Zoic bought the remains of Big John, the world’s largest reconstructed Triceratops, which was excavated in a ranch in South Dakota, US, and brought over here still wrapped in its chalky protective bandages.
Wow. And then what?
Then after a long process of piecing everything together and reconstructing the skeleton by our wonderful team, complete with casts of the missing parts of the skeleton Big John the Triceratops was reformed.
It must be great working at a paleontology company.
You know as a kid I wanted to do anything but that. But eventually seeing my dad being so passionate about what he does really made me want to follow in his footsteps. I don’t think my 16-year old daughter Asia would do that though.
Why not?
Well, she’s passionate about languages, so I hope she takes off and follows her passion of traveling around the world.
Did you?
I think I did. I didn’t finish university when I started working at my dad’s company and it’s been 20 years now. I love what I do, especially the public relations part. Also, I loved going to Paris and putting Big John together, it was good fun.
I think Big John was sold at an auction for a whooping 6.5 million, correct?
Yes. He is world known now, and the city of Trieste through him.
And your paleontology company is the only one in Italy at this level?
Yep, we are really proud of what we do.
You must love dinosaurs.
Actually, I like dogs a lot better (laghs-ed.)
Besides your company, what else excites you?
I’m a devoted yogi. I wake up every morning at 5.30 am and do a good 40 minutes of yoga exercises. Then I play with my dogs, prepare breakfast for Asia. Luckily, we live in Duino so sometimes I go for a long walk in the woods. There’s nothing like it really.
That sounds wonderful.
It is. Oh, and I love baking. Anything from cookies to cakes. But I don’t really like to eat sweets you know? It’s just the process that really relaxes me.
I get that. Future plans?
Company wise, we were waiting for mammoth skeletons to arrive all the way from Ukraine, but as you can imagine we don’t know when or whether they’re going to get here. Personally, I will continue enjoying life in our beautiful Trieste, which I am very grateful to be back at.
