by MK
Hundreds gathered Monday morning at the Basovizza memorial near Trieste to commemorate Italy’s Giorno del Ricordo (Day of Remembrance), a solemn occasion honoring the victims of post-World War II violence along the country’s eastern border and the forced exodus of thousands of ethnic Italians from Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia.
Buses arrived from across Italy, bringing attendees that included members of the Alpini, Italy’s elite mountain troops, as well as representatives from various civic and historical associations. The ceremony saw the participation of several prominent officials, including Bishop of Trieste Monsignor Enrico Trevisi, Trieste Mayor Roberto Dipiazza, Friuli Venezia Giulia Governor Massimiliano Fedriga, and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, who represented the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Speaking to the assembled crowd, Nordio invoked the dangers of extremist ideologies. “Concentration camps and gulags, swastika and hammer and sickle, raised arm and clenched fist—these symbols remind us that opposing extremisms share the same face of stupidity and brutality,” he said.
Established in 2004, the Giorno del Ricordo commemorates the thousands of Italians killed in the foibe—deep karst sinkholes that were used as mass graves—and the suffering of those expelled from their homes when Istria and Dalmatia were ceded to Yugoslavia after World War II. In 2024, the Italian government approved the establishment of the Museum of Remembrance in Rome to further preserve the historical memory of these events.
The national observance includes educational initiatives, conferences, and public discussions, with a strong emphasis on engaging younger generations. Italian law also mandates the support of institutions such as the Museum of Istrian-Fiuman-Dalmatian Civilization in Trieste and the Historical Museum-Archive of Fiume in Rome, which document and exhibit this complex chapter of history.
The ceremony at Basovizza stood as a powerful testament to Italy’s ongoing efforts to acknowledge and remember this painful past, ensuring that the voices of the victims and exiles remain a part of the national historical consciousness.
Interview: FVG governor, Massimiiano Fedriga
