Zibaldone

Honestly, I first thought that a zibaldone was some kind of Italian dessert.  In this case, however, a "zibaldone" is not a dessert, it is a notebook that holds a lot of different kinds of things.  Apparently, it was once kept by people in late-medieval and Renaissance Italy, and it was recognized by its mixed (and often chaotic and unorganized) nature.  It usually included a wide range of recipes, pictures, poems, quotes, and whatever the writer was interested in at the time.

Originating in the 14th century, the zibaldone was a type of commonplace book, a personal notebook where people recorded a lot of different kinds of information.  They might put in their observations, prayers, or reflections, and it often had sketches and illustrations. The term itself means "a heap of things" in Italian, because of the wide range of contents it includes.

The zibaldone first showed up during a period of increasing literacy among middle-class merchants and crafts people. Unlike the elegant manuscripts of the rich, zibaldoni were informal and personal, serving just as a place to keep facts and ideas. Venetian merchants, in particular, were known for keeping zibaldoni, using them to record their business transactions and travel observations. These notebooks were not just diaries—they were intellectual scrapbooks, including both practical knowledge and artistic ideas.

One famous example is the Zibaldone da Canal, a Venetian merchant’s notebook that contains mathematical calculations and reflections on daily life. Another notable zibaldone belonged to Giovanni Boccaccio, the famous Italian writer, who probably used his notebooks to put together his literary works. Even Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks are a bit like this, as they contain a mix of scientific observations, artistic sketches, and personal thoughts.  Although Leonardo’s notebooks might be more organized than most, the idea is similar.

All things considered, the zibaldone could be more than just a historical curiosity—it can also be a way that we might want to keep track of whatever we'd like to remember.  Unlike a formal, organized journal, a notebook like this could be used as a way to quickly make note of whatever is happening at the moment.  Of course, the spirit of the zibaldone lives on in personal blogs, diaries, and social media.  These all continue the tradition of capturing thoughts and experiences in an impromptu and personal way.  So, consider keeping a zibaldone for yourself.  It could be a fun and easy way to keep a journal.