On April 14th it was published (https://www.arcipelagoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BANDO-CONCORSO-2023) the announcement of the 21st Mailing List HISTRIA 2023 literary competition, reserved for students of primary schools and secondary schools located in Istria, Kvarner and Dalmatia, who know the Italian language or local dialects of Romance origin.

The announcement is sent to all schools where the teaching language is Italian, to the Istrian Region, so that it can forward it to the Croatian-speaking schools, and to the Italian Communities.

The themes proposed and chosen by the commissioners reflect both the historical and political problems of the lands of the Eastern Adriatic and current issues.

Every year it has been proposed Our ancestors count them, to highlight the bond of the new generations with the witnesses of the peculiar culture of those lands. To this theme, always very popular, one has recently been added focused on the Exodus, a cataclysm that almost annihilated the indigenous component that was previously the majority in Istria, in Fiume and in Zadar. This topic is also treated with great participation by both elementary and high school students, especially by highlighting the suffering and upheaval suffered by the so-called "remainers".

This year, more than 150 themes have arrived, a figure that has stabilized after the Covid emergency. Previously, there were more themes, but now the quality, especially linguistic, has improved a lot even in Montenegrin Dalmatia. But, above all, valuable works are arriving from places far from any school with Italian as the language of instruction. Despite the infamous Perusko decree, Italian or at least the Romance dialects are still alive in Istria and Rijeka, and this year too we had many works arriving from places that have not participated in recent years. For example, they arrived from the “Pinocchio” kindergarten in Zadar, from Lussinpiccolo, from Visinada, from Pisino, from Crevatini, from Matterada, from Momiano. Rovinj stood out for the large number of themes submitted, 42.

Many of them are even written in the oldest dialect, the Istriot: from Valle, from Dignano, from Gallesano and from Rovigno. Prizes are also awarded for artistic works that illustrate the Roman and Venetian civilization present in the territory.

The essential and very important work of secretary is always carried out by Walter Cnapich, son of Istrian parents, assisted after Maria Rita Cosliani's retirement for health reasons, by Nello Belci from Dignano and by the young Serena Antonelli and Maria Letizia De Luca. President of the Commission is Maria Grazia Belci, while the commissioners are a mix of first, second and third generation exiles, residents and supporters: Ambretta Medelin, Rosanna Biasiol, Maria Luisa Botteri, Adriana Ivanov, Eufemia Giuliana Budicin, Giulia Cnapich, Mirella Tribioli, Marella Pappalardo, Patrizia Pezzini, Mauro Mereghetti.

The prizes up for grabs have increased significantly from year to year and are financed both with the contribution of the Multimedia Documentation Centre of the Julian, Istrian, Rijeka and Dalmatian culture of Trieste, the Association of Italian Dalmatians in the World, the Rijeka Italians in the World, the Association of Italians of Pola and Istria, the Ruvignisa Family and the provincial committees of the National Association of Venezia Giulia and Dalmatia of Gorizia, Rome and Turin, the Association for the Istrian, Rijeka and Dalmatian culture in Lazio, established by the late Gianclaudio de Angelini, creator of the competition, by many other associations, such as the Italian Union of Capodistria/Rijeka, the Gorizia Committee of the Dante Alighieri Society of Gorizia, the Istria Circle of Trieste, and by private citizens, such as Piero Tarticchio, the Bellaspiga family, the children of Roberto Stanich and Lino Vivoda. In addition, the members of the Mailing List Histria contribute every year with self-financing. The involvement of the Istrian Region was very important, thanks to the work of the then Vice President Viviana Benussi, with prizes for both Italian and Croatian school students.

Despite the passing years, enthusiasm still helps both the commissioners and the members of the secretariat. Discussions are inevitable and demonstrate how the themes are not only read carefully but also capable of arousing emotions. The secretary usually resorts to night work to be able to send the necessary information and collect the votes of the themes divided into 40 sheets.

This year the award ceremony will take place in autumn in Visinada, thanks to the hospitality of the local Italian Community, led by the tireless president Neda Pilato.

Visinada, severely damaged by the bombings of World War II and almost completely abandoned by exiles, nevertheless preserves notable works of art and boasts a very active Italian community in various sectors. The splendid eighteenth-century square is surrounded by a wonderful panorama of the Quieto Valley, ranging from Pinguente, Motovun, Grosignana, Buje to the mouth of Novigrad and Poreč.

Visinada remains the guardian of the authentic Istrian spirit which, despite the blows of adverse fortune, has risen from the ashes.