Page 128 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 128
Memories and Dark Tourism in Istria
present in Svetvinčenat in central Istria at the 70th anniversary of
Bulešić’s execution on 24 August. These religious events do not at-
tract the media, since promotion and reporting are primarily carried
out by religious organisations, e.g. the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Poreč and Pula (http://www.biskupija-porecko-pulska.hr). From a
promotional point of view, the exhibition of Francesco Bonifacio in
the Church of St. Servul in Buje in September 2018 (Porečka i Pulska
biskupija, 2018) was a bit different because the event was, in addition
to the diocese’s website, published in advertising space in the wider
local environment.⁴¹
These are some of the most recognisable dark commemorative events
in Istria. There are also many others, which are of a distinct local, regional,
academic, or other nature. Thus a round table was organised in May 2018
on 5,000 Istrians who did not return from the Nazi concentration camps,
entitled Kadi su finili? Dove sono finiti? (Where did they end up?) (Is-
tarsko povijesno društvo – Società Storica Istriana, 2018c). In addition,
as an always desirable and topical theme in Istria, the Sloboda narodu!
Antifašizam u Istri – Libertà al popolo! L’antifascismo in Istria (Freedom
to the People! Anti-Fascism in Istria) exhibition was open to the pub-
lic from September 2015 to September 2018 in the Historical and Mar-
itime Museum of Istria (Pula) (Povijesni i pomorski muzej Istre – Museo
storico e navale dell’ Istria, n.d.); the opening ceremony of the travelling
exhibition Ana Frank – History for the Present was held in January 2018
(Petrović, 2018b) in memory and reminder of the consequences of the
holocaust. An additional interesting example is the flower- and wreath-
laying ceremony at the monument to the Vargarola victims next to the
Pula Cathedral.⁴² Local and regional political groups, representatives of
the Italian Consulate, of the anti-fascist organisations, of the Italian com-
munity as well as representatives of Istrian emigrants (esuli) and the de-
scendants of the victims participated in August 2018 (Grad Pula, 2018d),
which, in the spirit of today’s coexistence and cooperation, sets the com-
⁴¹ As usual in this part of Europe, stories of post-war killings and other related events are
subject to different views and ratings: anti-fascist organisations try to explain the reasons
why this happened and to justify it (Ravnić, 2013), while the other side condemns the
bestial execution of the priest and lists its arguments (Horvatič, 2017). The disunity of
Croatian society on these issues is also evident in all reactions related to the work and final
report of Croatia’s Council for dealing with the consequences of undemocratic regimes
(2018). Consequently, this heritage can be treated as dissonant heritage.
⁴² More can be found in sub-chapter ‘w w i i, Liberation and the Cold War in Istria’ (p. 90).
128
present in Svetvinčenat in central Istria at the 70th anniversary of
Bulešić’s execution on 24 August. These religious events do not at-
tract the media, since promotion and reporting are primarily carried
out by religious organisations, e.g. the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Poreč and Pula (http://www.biskupija-porecko-pulska.hr). From a
promotional point of view, the exhibition of Francesco Bonifacio in
the Church of St. Servul in Buje in September 2018 (Porečka i Pulska
biskupija, 2018) was a bit different because the event was, in addition
to the diocese’s website, published in advertising space in the wider
local environment.⁴¹
These are some of the most recognisable dark commemorative events
in Istria. There are also many others, which are of a distinct local, regional,
academic, or other nature. Thus a round table was organised in May 2018
on 5,000 Istrians who did not return from the Nazi concentration camps,
entitled Kadi su finili? Dove sono finiti? (Where did they end up?) (Is-
tarsko povijesno društvo – Società Storica Istriana, 2018c). In addition,
as an always desirable and topical theme in Istria, the Sloboda narodu!
Antifašizam u Istri – Libertà al popolo! L’antifascismo in Istria (Freedom
to the People! Anti-Fascism in Istria) exhibition was open to the pub-
lic from September 2015 to September 2018 in the Historical and Mar-
itime Museum of Istria (Pula) (Povijesni i pomorski muzej Istre – Museo
storico e navale dell’ Istria, n.d.); the opening ceremony of the travelling
exhibition Ana Frank – History for the Present was held in January 2018
(Petrović, 2018b) in memory and reminder of the consequences of the
holocaust. An additional interesting example is the flower- and wreath-
laying ceremony at the monument to the Vargarola victims next to the
Pula Cathedral.⁴² Local and regional political groups, representatives of
the Italian Consulate, of the anti-fascist organisations, of the Italian com-
munity as well as representatives of Istrian emigrants (esuli) and the de-
scendants of the victims participated in August 2018 (Grad Pula, 2018d),
which, in the spirit of today’s coexistence and cooperation, sets the com-
⁴¹ As usual in this part of Europe, stories of post-war killings and other related events are
subject to different views and ratings: anti-fascist organisations try to explain the reasons
why this happened and to justify it (Ravnić, 2013), while the other side condemns the
bestial execution of the priest and lists its arguments (Horvatič, 2017). The disunity of
Croatian society on these issues is also evident in all reactions related to the work and final
report of Croatia’s Council for dealing with the consequences of undemocratic regimes
(2018). Consequently, this heritage can be treated as dissonant heritage.
⁴² More can be found in sub-chapter ‘w w i i, Liberation and the Cold War in Istria’ (p. 90).
128
