The Italian Alpine Club, the oldest climbers’ association in Italy, was founded in Turin in 1863 on the initiative of Quintino Sella, finance minister of the newborn Kingdom of Italy, as well as an engineer and scientist. Born in Biella from a family of textile producers, Sella had always been passionate about mountains and, once in government, he put his passion at the service of the nation by organizing the famous ascent of the Monviso on August 12th. A few months later he followed that initiative with the founding of the Club Alpino (from 1865 Club Alpino Italiano), inspired by the English Alpine Club.