Page 113 - Dark Shades of Istria
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6.2 Memorial Practices and Dark Tourism in the post-wwi Period
Hungarian heroes and victims of wwi. Hence, memorial ceremonies and
commemorations also served as an act of affirmation of the Italian na-
tional identity, patriotism, regime and the consolidation of power in the
new annexed regions like Istria – see Klabjan (2010), Todero (2010) and
Kavrečič (2017). Moreover, Todero (2010, p. 385) claims that the purpose
of these practices was the justification of the numerousness of victims and
sacrifices in the eyes of the public. In this context, on the occasion of the
anniversary of the sinking of Austro-Hungarian battleship Szent Istvan,
the Day of the Sea (Festa del Mare) used to be celebrated in Pula following
a ministerial order, organised for the first time on 11 June 1920. The great-
est attraction was always the parade of many allegorical boats where, for
example in 1938, 20,000 people/spectators participated (Marsetič, 2006a;
2006b, p. 217). The Italian authorities also decided that the main cele-
brations/commemorations dedicated to the Unknown Soldier (Milite ig-
noto) were to be held throughout Italy on 4 November 1921.¹⁵ Celebra-
tions/commemorations were thus organised in Muggia, Koper, Izola, Pi-
ran, Pazin, Pula, and Rovinj, where Italian flags hung from the windows
of many houses. The event in Rovinj was attended by children of the Sale-
sian Communities, pupils of all schools, a brass band, civil and military
authorities, the fire brigade, war veterans’ organisations, the local section
of the Fascio di Combattimento (fascist organisation), representatives of
people politically persecuted by the Austro-Hungarian regime, and many
other organisations with wreaths and flags; the procession was about half
a kilometre long and at the starting point, the authorities had set a cer-
emonial altar with military signs and torches. In Koper, the event was
attended by delegates from an important international conference being
held at that time in Portorož.¹⁶ Visitors gathered in the main town square
and visited the cemetery. At the Tartini square in Piran, the occasion was
attended by more than three thousand visitors; in the events in Izola and
Muggia, they threw wreaths into the sea in memory of fallen marines.
There are insufficient archival documents for a definitive evaluation of
events in the hinterland, populated mainly by Slavic inhabitants (Klab-
jan, 2010, pp. 413–414).
In 1935, a glorious monument to the native Italian irredentist and
¹⁵ See also in Todero (2010) and Kavrečič (2017).
¹⁶ The ‘Portorose conference’ took place between 29 October and 23 November 1921, be-
tween the successors of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and Italy, to regulate economic,
railway and postal issues. More can be found in Marsico (1979).
113
Hungarian heroes and victims of wwi. Hence, memorial ceremonies and
commemorations also served as an act of affirmation of the Italian na-
tional identity, patriotism, regime and the consolidation of power in the
new annexed regions like Istria – see Klabjan (2010), Todero (2010) and
Kavrečič (2017). Moreover, Todero (2010, p. 385) claims that the purpose
of these practices was the justification of the numerousness of victims and
sacrifices in the eyes of the public. In this context, on the occasion of the
anniversary of the sinking of Austro-Hungarian battleship Szent Istvan,
the Day of the Sea (Festa del Mare) used to be celebrated in Pula following
a ministerial order, organised for the first time on 11 June 1920. The great-
est attraction was always the parade of many allegorical boats where, for
example in 1938, 20,000 people/spectators participated (Marsetič, 2006a;
2006b, p. 217). The Italian authorities also decided that the main cele-
brations/commemorations dedicated to the Unknown Soldier (Milite ig-
noto) were to be held throughout Italy on 4 November 1921.¹⁵ Celebra-
tions/commemorations were thus organised in Muggia, Koper, Izola, Pi-
ran, Pazin, Pula, and Rovinj, where Italian flags hung from the windows
of many houses. The event in Rovinj was attended by children of the Sale-
sian Communities, pupils of all schools, a brass band, civil and military
authorities, the fire brigade, war veterans’ organisations, the local section
of the Fascio di Combattimento (fascist organisation), representatives of
people politically persecuted by the Austro-Hungarian regime, and many
other organisations with wreaths and flags; the procession was about half
a kilometre long and at the starting point, the authorities had set a cer-
emonial altar with military signs and torches. In Koper, the event was
attended by delegates from an important international conference being
held at that time in Portorož.¹⁶ Visitors gathered in the main town square
and visited the cemetery. At the Tartini square in Piran, the occasion was
attended by more than three thousand visitors; in the events in Izola and
Muggia, they threw wreaths into the sea in memory of fallen marines.
There are insufficient archival documents for a definitive evaluation of
events in the hinterland, populated mainly by Slavic inhabitants (Klab-
jan, 2010, pp. 413–414).
In 1935, a glorious monument to the native Italian irredentist and
¹⁵ See also in Todero (2010) and Kavrečič (2017).
¹⁶ The ‘Portorose conference’ took place between 29 October and 23 November 1921, be-
tween the successors of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and Italy, to regulate economic,
railway and postal issues. More can be found in Marsico (1979).
113
