by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Pierpaolo Roberti, FVG Councilor for Local Autonomies, Security, and Immigration; Roberto Dipiazza, Mayor of Trieste
The Piemonte Cavalleria Regiment celebrated 70 years of its presence in Trieste on Tuesday with a ceremonial flag-raising in Piazza Unità d’Italia, honoring one of the Italian Army’s oldest cavalry units and its decades-long connection to the northeastern border city.
The ceremony, presided over by the regiment’s 98th commander, Col. Sandro Ricci, brought together senior civilian and military officials, veterans and students from local schools beneath the city’s main square overlooking the Adriatic.
Mayor Roberto Dipiazza described the anniversary as a celebration of a relationship that extends beyond military history. He recalled Trieste’s decision to grant the regiment honorary citizenship in 2004 and said its soldiers had become a familiar presence in the city’s public life through ceremonial duties and assistance during emergencies.
Regional Councilor for Local Autonomies Pierpaolo Roberti highlighted the regiment’s contribution to civilian protection, particularly its role in rescue and recovery efforts following the devastating 1976 Friuli earthquake. The regiment’s colors bear the Italian Army’s Bronze Medal of Valor for that operation, recognizing its service during one of the region’s darkest moments.
Roberti also pointed to the armed forces’ contemporary domestic mission through Operazione Strade Sicure, under which military personnel assist police in protecting public spaces and sensitive sites across Italy. He said investment in defense also meant investing in the training and expertise of military personnel.
Among those attending were Gen. Francesco Suma, commander of the Brigata Alpina Julia; regional Environment Councillor Fabio Scoccimarro; Trieste Prefect Giuseppe Petronzi; Police Commissioner Lilia Fredella; and representatives of local institutions.
Founded in 1692, the Piemonte Cavalleria is one of the oldest regiments in the Italian Army’s cavalry corps. Today it serves as the reconnaissance regiment of the Brigata Alpina Julia, operating with armored reconnaissance units alongside logistical and command components.
The regiment arrived in Trieste in 1956, two years after Italy regained administration of Zone A of the former Free Territory of Trieste. Initially stationed at the Vittorio Emanuele III barracks in the city, it later moved to the Guido Brunner barracks in Villa Opicina, where it remains based.
Seventy years later, the anniversary offered both a military commemoration and a reminder of the regiment’s enduring role in the history and identity of Trieste.
