Stava Disaster Anniversary

A memory spanning over forty years

On July 19, 1985, at 12:22 PM, the collapse of the Prestavèl fluorite mine tailings dams sent a massive mudslide crashing down the Val di Stava, in the municipality of Tesero. In just a few minutes, it swept through the valley toward the Avisio stream, claiming 268 lives and destroying hotels, homes, and bridges. It remains one of Europe's most severe technological disasters. Since 1986, July 19th has been a day of remembrance in Tesero and Val di Stava: an Anniversary that renews the memory of the victims and keeps the reflection on safety and responsibility alive.

Who organizes the Anniversary

The commemoration is promoted by the Fondazione Stava 1985 Onlus, established by the victims' families. The foundation manages the Stava 1985 Documentation Center in Tesero and the educational trail regarding the mine and the disaster. Recognized with the Alexander Langer International Award and Legambiente's Green Flag, the foundation preserves the memory through educational activities, meetings, and the stewardship of memorial sites, in close collaboration with the Municipality of Tesero, the Parish, and local choirs.

Three days of reflection

The Anniversary unfolds over three days. The first is dedicated to culture, with book presentations in the Sala Bavarese of the Municipal Theatre, in collaboration with the Municipal Library. The second day features the assembly of the 19 July Val di Stava Association and the evocative evening Via Crucis, which winds from the Pèsa area to the Chiesetta della Palanca, marking each station with the names of the victims, accompanied by youth with torches and the singing of Tesero's choirs.

July 19th, the day of remembrance

• Memorial Mass at the Archpriest Church of Sant'Eliseo, followed by a procession to the victims' cemetery;
• Ceremony at the cemetery, including the blessing of the graves of unidentified victims and the laying of floral wreaths;
• Ceremony at the Chiesetta della Palanca, at the monument donated by the people of Vajont to the survivors of Val di Stava;
• Screenings and tours at the Stava 1985 Center and the educational trail;
• Concert for Stava, held in the evening, featuring instrumental and vocal ensembles.

The Concert for Stava

The day concludes with the Concert for Stava, a deeply moving musical event that has featured sacred and classical repertoires performed by choirs, ensembles, and the "Il Pentagramma" Music School of Val di Fiemme and Fassa. Flute, oboe, organ, accordion, and baritone vocals guide the audience through a journey of reflection and hope, in the spirit of shared memory.

A landmark event in Val di Fiemme

The Stava Anniversary is more than a local commemoration: over the years, it has seen the participation of the highest state authorities and has become a national reference point on the themes of safety and civil and corporate responsibility. In Tesero, in Trentino-Alto Adige, the Val di Fiemme community gathers to honor the 268 victims, offering visitors to the valley an opportunity for authentic reflection, far from the spotlight of summer tourism.