Alle origini del pranzo di Babette. Le tartarughe come animali edibili nelle carte di Ulisse Aldrovandi

Abstract

This article explores the cultural construction of the turtle as an edible animal in the early modern period. Focusing on Ulisse Aldrovandi’s intellectual production, it seeks to offer a more nuanced understanding of the so-called Columbian exchange by emphasizing how not only plants but also animals contributed to reshaping the natural-historical and gastronomic imagination of Renaissance Europe. Through the examination of Aldrovandi’s library, manuscripts, and printed sources, the study shows how he sought to classify and “domesticate” a nature still perceived as exotic, integrating classical authorities and New World evidence with contemporary empirical knowledge. In doing so, Aldrovandi articulated an interpretation that intertwined natural history, medicine, food culture, and symbolic practice. Finally, the article suggests that the polysemic meanings attached to the consumption of turtle meat in the Italian Renaissance laid the groundwork for its later image as an exotic and prestigious food.