It was a busy period, full of events and emotions, summarised in the photographic synopsis on the cover page and to which L'Arena di Pola, the monthly magazine of the Association of Italians of Pola and Istria – Free Municipality of Pola in Exile, dedicated special pages: the Day of Remembrance, the Day of Memory and the inauguration of GO!25.

In these opening lines we are pleased to connect the initiatives still underway to the beautiful wish forwarded to us by a friend: May the “maybe” become “finally”. A wish, partially realized, that we can perhaps also combine with the heavy curtain finally raised on our history, thanks to the Day of Remembrance and the genuine determination of so many of the People of the Exodus. Finally a deserved dignity restored to a painful experience, to truth and respect, to the evoked light of a future of peace, sometimes unfortunately stained by the shadows of cowardly interventions. It also happened with the offensive graffiti at the Foiba of Basovizza, almost at the same time as the inauguration of GO! 2025 – Gorizia and Nova Gorica European Capital of Culture 2025. There are many special pages in this February issue, dedicated to the in-depth analysis of the various celebratory programs, but the summary also includes the traditional columns (history, itineraries, dialect, customs and traditions, curiosities) and the spaces you are fond of and in which you, dear readers, are directly involved, with participation, memories and testimonies.

Happy reading and see you next time!
Your director,

Viviana Facchinetti 

 

“The Arena of Pula” can be requested in PDF format by writing to redazione.arena@yahoo.it