Gardone Val Trompia, September 18, 2026 – A celebration for Beretta, but above all for Gardone Val Trompia and the surrounding region, which for half a millennium has shared the history of the world’s oldest manufacturing company still run by the same family.
Video: Beretta celebrates 500 years with government officials
The celebrations marking the company’s 500th anniversary were attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; Minister of Labor and Social Policies Marina Calderone; Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida; and Undersecretary of State for Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago, representing Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. They were joined by numerous civilian and military authorities and representatives of regional and local government.
Welcomed by Pietro, Franco and Carlo Gussalli Beretta, together with Chief Executive Officer Carlo Ferlito, the Prime Minister and the other guests were given a private tour of the company’s manufacturing facilities. There they met employees and saw firsthand a company that for five centuries has combined manufacturing tradition, technological innovation and deep roots in the local community.
The visit concluded with the official opening of the Innovation Habitat, Beretta’s new space dedicated to research and development, digital transformation, and the interaction between industrial expertise, new technologies and training.
Designed as a meeting place for people, ideas and innovation, the Innovation Habitat reflects Beretta’s vision for addressing the challenges of the coming decades through investment in talent, knowledge transfer and the continued evolution of its manufacturing processes.
The guests then moved to the sports field at the Gardone Val Trompia parish complex, where they watched two flyovers by the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian Air Force’s national
aerobatic jet team, which crossed the skies above the valley trailing the colors of the Italian flag.
The flyover carried strong symbolic meaning, bringing together two expressions of Italian excellence – industrial manufacturing and aviation – while involving the entire local community.
From the outset, Beretta wanted its 500th anniversary to be more than a celebration held behind factory walls. The goal was to share this milestone with the valley, government representatives, employees and the families that have accompanied the company through generations.
While meeting the large crowd gathered for the occasion, Prime Minister Meloni said her presence represented recognition of a company of exceptional standing: for its strong ties to the local community, its deep roots and history, the quality of its manufacturing, the value of Made in Italy around the world, and its contribution to the safety of Italian law enforcement agencies.
For Beretta, that connection to the local community is fundamental. Gardone Val Trompia is not simply where the company manufactures its products. It is home. For five centuries, skills, knowledge and manufacturing culture have been passed from one generation to the next here. It is also home to many of the 950 employees of Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta, the women and men who every day help keep centuries-old expertise both alive and relevant.
Beretta: a company built on people
One of the most heartfelt moments of the day was dedicated precisely to those people and to the company’s human capital. During a ceremony held at the Beretta 2 facility, employees reaching 25, 35 and 40 years of service were honored. Three special awards were also presented, and for the first time the company recognized the longest-serving employees of Beretta USA.
Taking the stage for remarks were Pietro Gussalli Beretta, Chairman of Beretta Holding; Franco Gussalli Beretta, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta; Carlo Gussalli Beretta, representing the family’s 16th generation and serving as PB Selection Business Development Manager and Digital Project and Innovation Manager; and Carlo Ferlito, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. Representing the Italian government were Minister Calderone and Undersecretary Perego.
During his remarks, Carlo Ferlito reviewed some of the most significant collaborations undertaken by Beretta during its 500th-anniversary year. Among them was the official coin of the Italian Republic commemorating Beretta’s 500 years, issued by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance and minted by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, the Italian State Mint. With a face value of 5 euros, the collector coin is struck from one ounce of silver with a proof finish. Designed by engraver Emanuele Ferretti, its obverse depicts Villa Beretta together with a reference to Gardone Val Trompia, while the reverse features the official 500th-anniversary logo. The design connects the company’s history, continuity of production, local roots and the technological evolution that has accompanied Beretta over five centuries.
The coin was joined by a commemorative postage stamp produced with Poste Italiane and included in the philatelic series dedicated to the “Excellence of the Productive System and Made in Italy,” celebrating historic Italian companies.
The stamp design, created in-house by Beretta designer Marco Martelli, places the 500th-anniversary logo at its center, accompanied by the graphic spark motif symbolizing energy, continuity and innovation. In the background is the number 1526, rendered in a calligraphic style inspired by the historic receipt preserved in the State Archives of Venice, while the Italian tricolor emphasizes the company’s national identity. The project also includes a philatelic collection consisting of a card, a cancelled postcard, a personalized envelope, an illustrated bulletin and a dedicated presentation folder. A special commemorative postmark was also created for September 18.
During the event, Jennifer Purdam, Beretta USA Human Resources Director, together with three generations of the Beretta family – Ugo Gussalli, Pietro, Franco and Carlo – presented loyalty awards to 14 Beretta USA employees whose service ranged from 25 to 46 years.
Another 40 Italian employees, with between 25 and 40 years of service, were also recognized, together with the recipients of three special awards.
Franco Gussalli Beretta reflected on the milestone:
“After fifteen generations, we are still here in Gardone Val Trompia, faithful to our heritage, proudly Italian and deeply connected to the valley and its people, while keeping our eyes on the world and on the future.
“Five centuries have passed, but that fire, that passion that drove us then, still burns today – not only within our family, but in all the people who have worked to make this company a world-renowned brand and an advanced manufacturing enterprise.
“Generations of technicians, workers, designers, entrepreneurs and craftsmen have built a true ‘Val Trompia Ecosystem,’ rich in a heritage of knowledge that even today makes this valley known far beyond Italy’s borders.
“We look at this anniversary with gratitude, but also with a certain humility. Five centuries of history do not make us better than anyone else. If anything, they remind us how easily what has been built can be lost, and how much commitment is required to preserve it.
“Long before us, someone else took care of this company. Long after us, someone else will do the same. We are simply one stage in this long history.
“And perhaps the most appropriate way to celebrate five hundred years is precisely this: to continue doing our work with seriousness and respect, preserving what we learned from those who came before us, making it relevant to the present and looking toward the future, with the awareness that what we build today belongs not only to us, but also to those who will come after us.”
The limited-edition €5 Beretta silver coin is struck in 1 oz of .999 silver, has a Proof finish, and is limited to 7,000 pieces. It’s available to international collectors through the Italian State Mint’s official online shop, at a price of €140 (about $160). No dedicated domestic distribution or U.S.-dollar MSRP has been announced.
Find out more: www.beretta500.com
