It is a real joy for all of us to learn from Voice of the People, the daily newspaper of the Italian national community in Croatia and Slovenia, that our Fiuman dialect has finally been registered in the register of intangible assets of the Republic of Croatia.

A long-awaited decision, as Professor Melita Sciucca had repeatedly hoped for, Past president The Italian Community of Rijeka followed the Ministry's request, later handing over the reins to Enea Dessardo, currently at the helm of the association. The Ministry of Culture and Media itself sent an official statement to the proponents: the Italian Community and the Council of the Italian National Council of the City of Rijeka.

«This recognition – he writes The Voice of the People – means that the Rijeka dialect is considered an element of cultural heritage to be protected, like other traditional linguistic expressions in the country. It does not imply official status as an administrative language, but does require protection, documentation, and promotion measures.

The procedure had completed all the required steps during 2024 and 2025 and was formally examined by the relevant commission on March 19, 2025. Official confirmation was already expected at the last edition of the Rijeka Song Festival, the singing event that "explodes" in one of Rijeka's main squares on the feast of its patron saint, St. Vitus, with a major turnout from the entire city. Or when the film "River or Death!", told in dialect, achieved national and international recognition. But the commission requested further technical opinions, and the final decision was postponed to the following months. And now, finally, it's a reality.

"The Association of Fiumani Italians in the World," declared AFIM President Franco Papetti, "expresses immense satisfaction in seeing the Fiuman dialect recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Croatia, after Istriot and Istro-Venetian were added to the list of protected languages. Over the years, our dialect has demonstrated its continued presence in Fiuman families both locally and internationally, and not only that. Participation in the Fiuman Song Festival, which has grown in importance in recent years, has further confirmed its importance as a distinctive feature of a somewhat shared identity. It is spoken by those who identify as Italian locally, but also by those who recognize its indigenous value and consider it part of their own culture. As Fiuman exiles, we can only be happy and therefore continue to support the work of the schools and the Italian community with initiatives that foster knowledge and dissemination of the dialect. I could mention the publication of the Italian-Fiuman Dictionary, or hospitality on the pages of the newspaper The Voice of the River of dialect texts. But the greatest joy is imagining a recognition for those who, despite the harshness of history and local conditions, have never given up, keeping the local dialect alive. Our gratitude to all of them.

This recognition protects the history and culture of the local Italian community but also aims to valorise the historical Italian presence in Istria and Rijeka and the desire to safeguard its cultural specificity in contemporary Europe.

Source: Association of Italian Fiumani in the World