RSI Conference Series Brings Gargnano, Salò and Toscolano Maderno Into Focus

A summer series of eight historical lectures focused on places linked to the Italian Social Republic (RSI) will take place in Garda towns including Gargnano, Salò and Toscolano Maderno, with meetings scheduled for 21:00. The initiative, “La Storia e i suoi luoghi,” is promoted by the culture departments of the three municipalities and led by Bruno Festa, with dates set for Gargnano (July 22 and 29; August 5 and 12), Toscolano Maderno (August 17 and 24) and Salò (August 18 and 25).

Alongside the free lectures (with mandatory booking), three paid guided outings will be held by professional guide Cinzia Pasini at 18:30 on August 11, 19 and 26 (fee: €8), one per municipality. The visits will include, among other sites, Palazzo Bettoni in Bogliaco (RSI-era Presidency of the Council), Palazzo Feltrinelli (Mussolini’s headquarters), and the Canonica di Gargnano orchard and Villa di Gargnano’s small square, with indoor relocation to the Sala Castellani if weather is poor; in Toscolano Maderno, the tours will start at the Elementary School (Ministry of the Interior) and the Church of Madonna del Benaco (with indoor backup), while in Salò they will begin at the terrace of the former Caserma Cantore and the lawn of the Italian Red Cross (with a fallback to the Sala dei Provveditori). Topics covered across the program include the final weeks of the war, document looting, requisitions and the black market, the presence of ministries, and the role of the Guardia di Finanza during Liberation days.
Italian Version