Remembrance Train aims to preserve national memory

“The beautiful journey of the Memory Train serves as a uniting project across Italy, aiming to commemorate our shared history. This initiative, is a result of the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Culture, the National Anniversaries mission led by Minister Andrea Abodi, the State Railways, the FS Foundation, and all the other institutional entities. It was conceived to shed light on the horrific events of the foibe tragedy – a horrific chapter in our history that was, for a long time, shrouded in ambiguity and neglect. It is only recently that we have started to truly acknowledge and remember this dark period of our past. The demonstration held in Naples today further highlights how we are finally giving the necessary respect and remembrance to the tragedy, and to the Julian-Dalmatian exodus.” These were the words of the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, who spoke at the Central Station of Naples during the penultimate stop of the Memory Train, which embarked on its journey from Trieste on February 10th marking the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Day of Remembrance for the victims of the foibe. Minister Sangiuliano traveled to Naples after joining Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, at the train’s departure from Trieste.

“Culture is a powerful tool for promoting remembrance and justice, as demonstrated by the Memory Train. On February 10th, to show national unity, we illuminated three symbolic places – the Brera art gallery in Milan, the Colosseum in Rome, and Capodimonte in Naples – with the tricolor. The choice of Naples was not arbitrary. The city had a different and welcoming experience compared to some of the darker chapters in our history. For instance, in Bologna, ideological protestors of the communist party shamefully prevented the exiles from receiving food and drink by pouring milk intended for children onto the train tracks. In contrast, in Naples, right in the gardens of the Capodimonte Park, our brothers from Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia were welcomed with open arms and treated with humanity.”

“Today, we welcome the Memory Train back to Naples. The train carries the memories of the suffering and humiliation experienced by the Julian-Dalmatian Italians due to the communist violence under Tito. Naples has always been a city of welcome and remembrance. Today, like yesterday, we remember our brothers from Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia – Italians by birth and by choice. To them, we owe our gratitude and shared memory.”

A place of reconciliation will soon be established in Rome, which will narrate the story of this national tragedy comprised of stories, characters, collective and individual events. The bill for the establishment of a large National Museum of Remembrance, located near Piazza del Popolo, which has Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, as its first signatory, has already been approved. The plan is to open the museum to the public in a few years. This has been a long-awaited act of justice,” concluded the Minister.

The Train of Remembrance project was conceived following a resolution of the Culture Commission of the Chamber of Deputies that unanimously voted for it. The project is implemented by the Mission Structure for National Anniversaries and National and International Sporting Events of the Presidency of the Council, the Ferrovie dello Stato, and the FS Foundation Italian. It is also in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Merit, the Ministry of Defence, Rai Teche, Rai Cultura, Rai Storia, Archivio Luce, and the Regional Institute for Istrian-Fiume-Dalmatian Culture.

The Memory Train itself is a historic train, furnished by the FS Italiane Foundation, and has been specially set up with a multimedia exhibition along with the display of original objects belonging to the exiles. The Memory Train is scheduled to conclude its journey on February 27th at the Taranto station.