by InTrieste
A solemn yet celebratory atmosphere filled the Sala delle Colonne at the Palazzo della Regione in Trieste on Wednesday, as local and regional leaders gathered to mark the 70th anniversary of Trieste’s return to Italy, a momentous chapter in post-World War II history. The event, organized by the Lega Nazionale, honored the enduring memory of October 26, 1954, when the city of Trieste was officially reintegrated into Italy after nearly a decade under Anglo-American governance.
Alessia Rosolen, the Regional Councillor for Education, took center stage in the commemorations, paying tribute to those who preserved the history of this complex period. In her address, Rosolen highlighted the importance of remembering the pivotal events of 1953, which she described as the “tragic prelude” to Trieste’s eventual reunification with Italy. “The greatest thanks must go to those who preserved and enhanced the memories of those days, starting with the events of 1953, which were the tragic prelude to what would happen the following year with Trieste’s return to Italy,” she said.
The 1954 handover is seen as a defining moment in the city’s history, marking not only the end of international administration but also the rekindling of Trieste’s national identity. “It was a pivotal moment for what became the political laboratory that Trieste has been ever since,” Rosolen said, acknowledging the city’s unique role in shaping post-war Italy.
Among those in attendance were prominent figures such as Trieste’s mayor, Roberto Dipiazza, Muggia’s mayor, Paolo Polidori, Prefect Pietro Signoriello, and Bishop Enrico Trevisi. The presence of these leaders underscored the continued significance of Trieste’s history to both the local community and the broader Italian narrative.
A focal point of the event was the unveiling of a historical-photographic exhibition titled The Second Redemption of Italian Trieste, an Anniversary Looking to the Future. The exhibition, curated by the Lega Nazionale, traces the city’s journey from international governance to its eventual return to Italy, showcasing images that capture the joy, tension, and complex emotions of that period. The exhibit will remain open to the public until October 30, offering a rare glimpse into a critical era in Italy’s post-war history.
Rosolen also acknowledged the bittersweet nature of Trieste’s post-war legacy, noting that the joy of reintegration in 1954 was tempered by the formal loss, in 1975, of the eastern lands from which hundreds of thousands of exiles fled. “To the joy and the sense of liberation of that day in 1954, there was also the anguish for the loss of those lands that hundreds of thousands of exiles abandoned to continue living in their homeland in freedom,” she said.
As Trieste looks to the future, the commemorations underscored the city’s resilience and its ability to forge a national identity from a complex and often painful past.
