On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Liberation, Palazzo Bettoni in Bogliaco, which played a crucial role as the seat of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Social Republic, is the focus of a series of historical articles written by Bruno Festa. These writings trace the events related to the RSI in the Lake Garda area, from Mussolini’s arrival in Gargnano to the events leading up to the liberation. Palazzo Bettoni hosted the Council of Ministers on 15 occasions out of a total of 17, with offices distributed across various rooms, including those used for presidential meetings.
The analysis also highlights the final moments of the war in the palace, with government personnel quickly abandoning their posts and important documents being destroyed or looted during the chaos of the last days. Among these was a painting by Jusepe de Ribera, which mysteriously disappeared in the post-war period. The narrative offers a fascinating and complex snapshot of the political and social dynamics of the time, emphasizing how local administration transformed with the fall of the RSI and the arrival of Allied forces.
