Giants: Titans of the Alps – The Stupendous Journey of Battista and Paolo Ugo
Check out eXtraHumans on RedBubble! Where you can make a visual journey into the extraordinary with our fusion of UFOs and enigmatic wonders on digital art: 
Your support helps continue this journey, you Dive in!
Serie: Giants
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” — Isaac Newton
The incredible story of the “Giants of the Alps” unfolds with the tale of two brothers native to Vinadio, a quiet town nestled in the province of Cuneo, in Italy.
Battista and Paolo Antonio Ugo, born towards the end of the 19th century, rose to staggering fame as the “Giants of the Alps,” captivating audiences across squares and fairs, and even culminating their career in the famous Barnum & Bailey Circus in New York.
Their extraordinary stature, documented in countless postcards alongside dwarves and other circus performers, exceeded an impressive 2 meters and 30 centimeters.
Clad in impeccably tailored attire, complete with a black top hat, walking stick, and overcoat, the images of the brothers portrayed surreal enlargements of everyday scenes: a gas lamp transformed into a cigar lighter, a ladder becoming a means of communication with the giant, a pair of trousers serving as shelter for two men of average size.
Serie: Giants
Les Geants Hugo et leur familie
Les Geants Hugo et leur familie
Serie: Giants
This remarkable story, chronicled in a recent book by Paolo Balmas, transports us back to a bygone era.
Born into a humble and hardworking family in Vinadio, Battista and Paolo were but two of seven siblings raised by Antonio and Maria Teresa Chiardola.
Their daily lives were marked by their extraordinary physique; Battista stood tall at 265 centimeters and weighed over 200 kilograms, while Paolo was only slightly shorter. They consumed half a dozen eggs at a time and quenched their thirst with half-liter tankards. Dressing them was a feat in itself, necessitating bespoke clothing and shoes tailored to their colossal proportions.
They tirelessly supported their family, laboring as farmers, shepherds, and lumberjacks depending on the season.
Throughout the valleys, whispers abounded of the Ugo brothers’ immense strength. Battista, so big that he couldn’t fit into school desks like his peers, was said to have used a modified chestnut trunk for seating.
As a young man, he could single-handedly carry a 400-kilogram cart on his shoulders, while walking through Cuneo’s arcades required him to stoop to avoid hitting his head. Locals marveled as he lit a cigar, striking a match on balconies three meters above ground.
Paolo’s features inspired awe from a military doctor, who remarked, “He would make a fine guard at the Royal Palace of Rome!”
Serie: Giants
The incredible story of the ‘Giants of the Alps
Ironically, their brother Giuseppe was deemed unfit for service due to his diminutive stature, standing a mere meter and fifty centimeters tall.
Their journey took a pivotal turn in the autumn of 1891 when Battista ventured beyond the Alps to France, where he caught the eye of a traveling circus owner. Renamed Baptiste Hugo, he embarked on a life as a sideshow phenomenon, captivating audiences across France.
Paolo joined Battista in 1905, and together as the “Giants of the Alps,” they toured Europe, delighting crowds and filling the coffers of impresarios. Despite their earnings, the brothers remained devoted to their family, sending money home and even purchasing a home in Maisons-Alfort, a village near Paris, where they lived a simple and good life.
Tragedy struck in 1914 when Paolo succumbed to illness at the tender age of 26. Battista, grieving but resilient, continued his career at the famed Barnum & Bailey Circus in New York.
However, beset by homesickness and feeling out of place, he ultimately met his end in 1916, passing away in Manhattan.
Today, the legacy of the Ugo brothers, the “Giants of the Alps,” lives on.
Near the Vinadio fortress, colorful sculptures pay homage to Battista and Paolo, while their story endures in the hearts of the valley dwellers, passed down through generations, immortalized in vintage photographs capturing the brothers’ elegance amidst friends, admirers, and colleagues.
Serie: Giants
The Sculptures of the two giants brothers Near the Vinadio fortress
“I believe in elves and giants. I believe that fairy tales are nothing more than news reports of what once happened.” — Sondra Locke
Recent Comments