report: Maximiliano Crocamo
Interview: FVG governor, Massimiliano Fedriga
Plans are underway to redevelop the former Padriciano refugee camp on the outskirts of Trieste into a national museum dedicated to the history of displacement and exile in the 20th century, regional officials said on Tuesday during a site visit.
The project centers on the transformation of the former Centro Raccolta Profughi di Padriciano into a museum that will address the experiences of refugees and exiles from Italy’s northeastern borderlands. The redevelopment aims to frame these events not only as historical facts but as part of a broader reflection on democracy, civil responsibility and collective memory.
According to project planners, the museum will rely heavily on multimedia and immersive installations designed to engage visitors emotionally as well as intellectually. The approach is intended to move beyond traditional, text-based historical narration and make the experiences of displacement more immediate, particularly for younger generations.
Regional authorities have already allocated €1.5 million for the first phase of the project through the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Agency for Cultural Heritage (Erpac). Additional funding from the national government and further regional investments are expected in subsequent budget cycles.
Once completed, the museum is expected to become a major cultural and educational center, serving both the local community and a wider national audience, and restoring visibility and dignity to a complex and painful chapter in the history of this border region.
