by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Trieste Giorgio Rossi, Councilor for Culture and Tourism
The city of Trieste will begin a yearlong series of cultural events on May 24 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Parco della Rimembranza, a memorial park dedicated to soldiers who died in World War I.
The program, organized by the City of Trieste with support from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region and several local cultural institutions, includes official ceremonies, concerts and a historical exhibition planned for 2026.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Giorgio Rossi, the city councillor for culture and tourism, described the park as a “civic acropolis” overlooking San Giusto Hill and emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory at a time of renewed geopolitical tensions in Europe.
Trieste, situated near the Slovenian border, experienced both World Wars, Nazi occupation, Yugoslav control and Allied administration before its return to Italy in 1954. City officials said the centennial initiatives aim to promote broader awareness of that history, particularly among younger generations and international visitors.
The commemorations will begin Sunday with wreath-laying ceremonies and a flag-raising event at the park, which was inaugurated on May 24, 1926. A public concert will follow on May 30 at the Politeama Rossetti, featuring the wind orchestra of the Giuseppe Tartini Conservatory and a military brass ensemble from the Pozzuolo del Friuli Cavalry Brigade.
A major exhibition is also planned for autumn 2026 at the Diego de Henriquez War for Peace Museum, drawing on the photographic archives of Trieste’s civic museums.
Created in the 1920s, the Parco della Rimembranza was conceived not only as a memorial but also as a living public space. Each tree in the park was originally dedicated to a fallen soldier, linking the city’s collective memory to individual lives lost in war.
Officials said the centennial program seeks to reinforce the park’s dual role as both a historical monument and a gathering place for civic reflection, environmental awareness and intergenerational dialogue.
