Page 116 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 116
Memories and Dark Tourism in Istria
examples see Mosse (2002) and Winter (2009b). Hence, numerous initia-
tives were undertaken for commemorations, blessings of graves, anniver-
saries, and masses, e.g. in Pula, Vrsar, Rovinj (Ricordo duraturo della re-
denzione [Long-lasting memory of Redemption]) and elsewhere (Todero,
2010, pp. 390–391).
Regardless of the indisputable historical facts of the Italian military
achievements, everything was in line with Mussolini’s triumphant words:
‘Now is no time for history; it is a time for myths’ (Klavora, 2011, p. 87).
On the basis of these examples, we can agree with the findings of Todero
(2010) and Kavrečič (2017) on the complete Italian monopolisation of the
memory of the conflict; memories and traditions of Croats and Slove-
nians, mostly former Austro-Hungarian soldiers, were simply prohibited
(damnatio memoriae). From the point of view of dark tourism, all memo-
rial and other events in Istria should be interpreted with caution. Previous
research mostly shows the memorial aspect, whereas the tourist aspect is
not exposed.
However, there is serious doubt that these events attracted interna-
tional visitors or visitors from distant places of the Kingdom. If we un-
derstand them correctly, these events were not intended to promote travel
(to Istria), as they were organised throughout the Kingdom on the same
days. On the other hand, all wwi-related excursions were of a strong dark
tourism nature. The former Soča/Isonzo battlefield, as one of the central
areas of dark tourism in Venezia Giulia, was not too far away. With the
closure of the Maritime Museum in Pula, Istria remained completely in
the shadow of the Soča Valley with all its memorial structures, the supras-
tructure and the related sad stories.²²
Despite the cruel fascism, it should be noted that Pula at that time was
also an Upper Adriatic cruise destination. On 25 July 1935, for example, a
large group of British and American tourists disembarked from the En-
glish steamer City of London at the pier Fiume (Marsetič, 2006a). In addi-
tion, Pula used to have its communal swimming centre (Bagno polese)²³
which was opened in 1886 (Marsetič, 2006a, p. 7; 2006b, pp. 218–219) and
a centre for cultural and recreational activities for employees and work-
ers in their leisure time (Dopolavoro), which opened in 1923 (Duraković,
²² Many large military shrines, charnel houses, memorial areas, monuments and museums,
and changed toponyms were introduced by the beginning of w w i i, which strongly stim-
ulated the development of dark tourism there (Kavrečič, 2017).
²³ The centre was closed in 1937 due to hygienic reasons (Marsetič, 2006b, p. 219).
116
examples see Mosse (2002) and Winter (2009b). Hence, numerous initia-
tives were undertaken for commemorations, blessings of graves, anniver-
saries, and masses, e.g. in Pula, Vrsar, Rovinj (Ricordo duraturo della re-
denzione [Long-lasting memory of Redemption]) and elsewhere (Todero,
2010, pp. 390–391).
Regardless of the indisputable historical facts of the Italian military
achievements, everything was in line with Mussolini’s triumphant words:
‘Now is no time for history; it is a time for myths’ (Klavora, 2011, p. 87).
On the basis of these examples, we can agree with the findings of Todero
(2010) and Kavrečič (2017) on the complete Italian monopolisation of the
memory of the conflict; memories and traditions of Croats and Slove-
nians, mostly former Austro-Hungarian soldiers, were simply prohibited
(damnatio memoriae). From the point of view of dark tourism, all memo-
rial and other events in Istria should be interpreted with caution. Previous
research mostly shows the memorial aspect, whereas the tourist aspect is
not exposed.
However, there is serious doubt that these events attracted interna-
tional visitors or visitors from distant places of the Kingdom. If we un-
derstand them correctly, these events were not intended to promote travel
(to Istria), as they were organised throughout the Kingdom on the same
days. On the other hand, all wwi-related excursions were of a strong dark
tourism nature. The former Soča/Isonzo battlefield, as one of the central
areas of dark tourism in Venezia Giulia, was not too far away. With the
closure of the Maritime Museum in Pula, Istria remained completely in
the shadow of the Soča Valley with all its memorial structures, the supras-
tructure and the related sad stories.²²
Despite the cruel fascism, it should be noted that Pula at that time was
also an Upper Adriatic cruise destination. On 25 July 1935, for example, a
large group of British and American tourists disembarked from the En-
glish steamer City of London at the pier Fiume (Marsetič, 2006a). In addi-
tion, Pula used to have its communal swimming centre (Bagno polese)²³
which was opened in 1886 (Marsetič, 2006a, p. 7; 2006b, pp. 218–219) and
a centre for cultural and recreational activities for employees and work-
ers in their leisure time (Dopolavoro), which opened in 1923 (Duraković,
²² Many large military shrines, charnel houses, memorial areas, monuments and museums,
and changed toponyms were introduced by the beginning of w w i i, which strongly stim-
ulated the development of dark tourism there (Kavrečič, 2017).
²³ The centre was closed in 1937 due to hygienic reasons (Marsetič, 2006b, p. 219).
116
