Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Terrorism - Via Caetani

A place that has become a symbol of memory

Via Caetani is a narrow street in the Sant'Angelo district, just a short walk from Largo Argentina and the Ghetto, in the historic center of Rome. On May 9, 1978, after fifty-five days of captivity, the body of Aldo Moro was found here in the trunk of a red Renault 4. Since then, that stretch of pavement has become more than just a city street: it is one of Italy's most significant sites of civil memory, marked by a plaque and a stone monument where, every year, a simple and solemn gesture is renewed.

The Day of Remembrance on May 9th

With Law no. 56 of May 4, 2007, the Republic recognized May 9th as the Day of Remembrance dedicated to the victims of terrorism and massacres of this nature. The date commemorates not only Moro and the five men of his escort killed in Via Fani, but all victims of domestic and international terrorism: magistrates, journalists, officers, trade unionists, and citizens affected during the 'Years of Lead' and subsequent attacks, including Italian victims of attacks abroad.

How the ceremony unfolds

On the morning of May 9th, the President of the Republic arrives at Via Caetani to lay a laurel wreath beneath the plaque. Standing alongside are typically the Presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Minister of the Interior, and representatives of local institutions—the Mayor of Rome and the President of the Lazio Region. After the honor guard and a moment of reflection, various delegations follow: political parties, veterans' associations, the ANPI, and families of the victims, who in turn lay flowers and wreaths along the street.

The institutional commemoration

The laying of wreaths in Via Caetani is followed later that day by an official ceremony hosted in rotation by one of the two houses of Parliament: Palazzo Madama or Palazzo Montecitorio. The ceremony is built around testimonies from the victims' families and the participation of students, featuring the Italian National Anthem performed by school choirs and speeches by the highest state officials. Many schools in the Lazio region participate with research projects, readings, and visits to Roman sites of memory.

Why attend

• An authentic civil rite: no stagecraft, just a narrow street, a wreath, and silence.
• Free access: the commemoration is public and free, though the area is subject to security checks.
• In the heart of Rome: Via Caetani is a stone's throw from the Portico d'Ottavia, Largo Argentina, and Palazzo Mattei, making it easy to include in a walk through the historic center.
• For schools: it is one of the most effective ways to teach younger generations about the 'Years of Lead' and the democratic resilience of the Republic.

Rome, city of memory

In the capital, May 9th is linked to other sites connected to the same events: Via Mario Fani, where the kidnapping and the massacre of the escort took place, and the monument to the fallen in the Trionfale district. Those visiting Rome during these days will find a widespread calendar of meetings, documentary exhibitions, and public readings in the Lazio region, promoted by municipalities, libraries, and victims' associations.