Day of Remembrance - Ceremony at the Foibe Victims Monument (Giuliano Dalmata District)

A civic anniversary in the heart of the exiles' district

The Day of Remembrance, established by Law no. 92 of March 30, 2004, is celebrated every year on February 10 to preserve the memory of the victims of the foibe massacres and the exodus of Italians from Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia. In Rome, the anniversary has a natural home: the Giuliano Dalmata district, located behind the EUR area, within the territory of the Municipality IX of Rome, in the Lazio Region. This is no ordinary neighborhood: it emerged in the post-war period around the 'Villaggio Giuliano', built using structures originally intended for the Universal Exhibition to provide homes for families arriving from the eastern Adriatic lands. Walking through its streets today means traversing a piece of Italian history that reshaped geography.

The ceremony at the Foibe Victims Monument

The central moment is the laying of a laurel wreath at the Foibe Victims Monument in Largo Vittime delle Foibe Istriane, in front of the Laurentina metro terminus. Representatives from Rome Capital, the Metropolitan City of Rome, Municipality IX, and Exile Associations participate alongside citizens and local families. The ceremony is brief and essential, marked by silence and honors paid to the flags: there is no spectacle, only quiet reflection.

Immediately afterward, the procession moves along Via Laurentina, where a second wreath is laid at the Karst Cippus, a stone block brought from the Karst plateau that symbolically commemorates the lost lands and the natural sinkholes (foibe) into which the victims were thrown.

The framework of Rome Capital's initiatives

The district ceremony is part of a broader city program coordinated by Rome Capital. On the same day, the Sala della Protomoteca at the Campidoglio hosts the official celebration in the presence of the Mayor of Rome, featuring institutional speeches, testimonials, and musical interludes. In the days surrounding February 10, Rome's libraries, the House of Memory and History, and the Casa del Ricordo offer meetings, documentary screenings, book presentations, and thematic tours. Municipality IX also organizes guided tours for high school students, often conducted in collaboration with the Historical Archive Museum of Fiume, which is based in the district.

Why it is worth attending

• An authentic site: The Giuliano Dalmata district is the only Roman settlement born directly from the Adriatic exodus.
• Free access: The ceremony takes place outdoors and is open to everyone, with no booking or tickets required.
• Living memory: Many families present are direct descendants of the exiles and still carry Istrian and Dalmatian surnames.
• Cultural context: During these weeks, the district and the city offer exhibitions, archives, and meetings to delve into a historical event that was long overlooked.

A tip for your visit

Visitors coming from outside Rome can combine the ceremony with a walk through the EUR district, just a few minutes away, and a visit to the Historical Archive Museum of Fiume, which preserves documents, photographs, and everyday objects brought by the exiles. It is the best way to put a face and a voice to the names engraved on the monument.