Brescia Launches Center for Social Republic Research at Palazzo Fantoni
A signature on history. Yesterday morning, in the new “Fresco Hall” of Palazzo Broletto, in Brescia, the memorandum of incorporation for the establishment of the Centro studi e documentazione della Repubblica sociale italiana (Study and Documentation Center of the Italian Social Republic) was officially signed in Salò.
The signatories, Alberto Cavalli, President of the Province of Brescia, Ettore Albertoni, Regional Assessor, and Giampiero Cipani, Mayor of Salò, thus completed a process that lasted over four years. The initiative was initially driven by the Salò City Council and was supported by, among others, the former Regional Assessor for Culture, Marzio Tremaglia, who has since passed away prematurely.
Objectives and Location of the Center
“The Center for the Study of the Italian Social Republic — explained the President of the Province, Alberto Cavalli — represents another step in Brescia’s reflection on its own history and its efforts to better know its roots.”
“The years of the RSI,” Cavalli continued, “were years in which Brescia played a particularly significant historical role, undoubtedly at the forefront: we shouldn’t be afraid to confront them. The historical period in question,” Cavalli concluded, “was definitely tragic and tumultuous, still vivid in many hearts, but sufficiently distant in time to be examined without bias.”
The new Center for the Study, which will be housed in Palazzo Fantoni, an historic cultural hub of the Comune di Salò, will have access to two valuable archives.
The first is the official archive of Marshal Graziani, the military leader of the RSI: seventy boxes of documents still to be archived. The second is the Susmel archive: 30 boxes already cataloged, in addition to ten volumes of considerable interest.
Recently, a third private collection has also been added, although its scope is yet to be evaluated.
Organization and Funding
“The first phase has concluded, which was laid out in 1996 by my predecessor, Marzio Tremaglia,” explained Albertoni, Assessor for Cultures, Identities, and Autonomies. “
Now, the governing bodies need to be elected, including the Board of Directors, Scientific Committee, and Board of Auditors, totaling nine members.
To establish what is currently a mere association, but which aims to become, in the future, a true Foundation according to its intentions, the Region has allocated 200 million euros (130 million for startup and 70 million for purchasing materials).
The Province of Brescia contributed 20 million euros, while the Comune di Salò added 30 million euros, along with providing the Palazzo Fantoni as the future headquarters.
“I hope,” added Cavalli, “that this initiative, besides boosting historical research and study, can have a positive impact on Brescia’s cultural tourism, which already offers attractions like the Vittoriale di Gardone on Lake Garda, capable of attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.”
Results and Expectations
“An act of this kind,” said the Mayor of Salò, Giampiero Cipani, “was a necessary step for the city.”
“Over the years, many people, including foreigners, were surprised that Salò had no memory of that historical period. Now, this gap has finally been filled: I hope the Center for the Study will foster fruitful relationships with other research entities in the province and Lombardy.”
