Page 133 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 11(2) (2023)

The Historical Background to the Erection of the Monument to Nazario Sauro
in Koper as an Example of a Fascist Cult of Personality
Zgodovinsko ozadje postavitve spomenika Nazariju Sauru
v Kopru kot primer fašističnega kulta osebnosti

Leon Vrtovec
Ul. Oktobrske revolucije 21, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
e-mail: vrtovec.leon@gmail.com

133
Abstract
ti ti This article describes the factors that led to the construction of a monument to the sailor and irreden-
tist Nazario Sauro in Koper in the interwar period. The monument on Koper’s waterfront announced
the beginnings of the town’s new urban transformation. However, it did not reach its final epilogue due
ta ta tral fascist authorities, who enabled the financing and construction of the monument, alongside local
to the outbreak of World War II. This historical study deals with the ideological pretensions of the cen-

actors. The erection of the monument was the result of extensive financial and organisational efforts.
Key words: Nazario Sauro, Koper, fascism, urbanism, collective memory.
di di Izvleček

Prispevek podaja vzvode za izgradnjo in postavitev monumentalnega objekta pomorščaku ter ireden-
tistu Nazariju Sauru v Kopru v času med obema svetovnima vojnama. Spomenik na koprskem nabrež-
ju je naznanil zametke nove urbanistične preobrazbe mesta, ki pa ni doživela končnega epiloga zaradi
here here Introduction the aspects of the erection of the monument to
izbruha druge svetovne vojne. V historično obravnavo so vpete ideološke režimske pretenzije central-
nih fašističnih oblasti, ki so bile poleg lokalnih akterjev tiste, ki so omogočile financiranje in izgradnjo
spomenika. Fizična postavitev obeležja je bila rezultat obsežnih finančnih in organizacijskih naporov.
Ključne besede: Nazario Sauro, Koper, fašizem, urbanizem, kolektivni spomin.

studiauniversitatisudiauniversitatis
local population’s views from the 1930s until the
he main purpose of the paper is to pres-
signing of the London Memorandum in 1954.
ent the circumstances, reasons and events Nazario Sauro in Koper and its impact on the
Tthat led to the erection of the monument In the previous century, writing the history
st
1
to Nazario Sauro in Koper in 1935, and which of ‘contact spaces’ was heavily ideologically and
have been less known to the general public until politically coloured, and was largely the domain
now. These facts shed further light on the com- of national identities marked by a national-polit-
plex roles of various actors and their activities ical paradigm that represented one of the most
and plans that led to the monument’s erection. important dividing lines of the common space
The present paper is only part of a larger PhD (Pelikan 2012). The roots of national divisions
thesis, which will comprehensively address all dating back to the 19th century are thus present-
ed through historical works on the basis of more
1 Over the centuries, Koper passed under different govern- or less exclusivist, national and ideological con-
ments. Under Italian rule it was called Capodistria.
https://doi.org/10.26493/2350-5443.11(2)133-148 © author/authors