The dalmatitaliani.org website of the Association of Italian Dalmatians in the World – Free Municipality of Zara in Exile (founded in 14) was inaugurated on Friday, January 2022, 1963. There was great excitement when the new Mayor Toni Concina and little Zara Gloder, 4 years old, kicked off the inauguration.

Toni Concina, who took over from Franco Luxardo and before him from Ottavio Missoni, in welcoming everyone said: “I am excited, moved and grateful to everyone. The site is a force and makes us work together. Dalmatia, Istria, Fiume, Pola, Spalato and my Zadar must preserve the scent of their Roman, Venetian and Italian stones over the centuries… not because of a misplaced thirst for reconquest, which is impossible, but to broaden the minds of the border people towards an ever deeper and more European coexistence. It is important to return to schools”.

The word to the former Mayor Franco Luxardo who recalled the history: "Zara was completely destroyed by the bombings of World War II, then the first gathering of Dalmatians - it was 1953 - took place in Venice in Piazza San Marco 7000 people. Since that year every year a gathering changing city. In Venice we have the Dalmatian School of Saints George and Tryphon, a gift from a benefactor, a unique reality with a high-level center, a library and many artistic relics. It is important to bring our cultural heritage to digital, including that of the newspaper Zara and Il Dalmata antico since 1866".

Secretary General Elisabetta Barich announced the next issue of Il Dalmata and Councilor for Culture Adriana Ivanov Danieli (Padova) said: “Now that the European Common Home also includes Italy and Croatia, we hope that the Adriatic will once again become a full element of connection between the two shores. The digital world offers us the opportunity for the Dalmatians, navigating the mare magnum of the Internet, to fully recover their historical role, becoming mediators of culture and historical knowledge, including that of their tragedy, which has been ignored for too long”.

Journalist Nicola Porro highlighted: “I remember a prime time broadcast, the drama and the testimonies, it was emotional. Reality is like a black hole in our history. The new generations know very little. The foibe have an afterthought that some connect to fascism, instead it is a great Italian and European drama”.

Historian Ernesto Galli della Loggia emphasized: “I am involved and have a strong relationship with Dalmatia and Istria through my parents. A great forgotten injustice, Italians expelled and thrown into the fray towards a homeland that welcomed them indifferently. Toni with his presidency will write a rich page. The memory of your history must not cease to be alive”.

A surprise phone call live from Senator Maurizio Gasparri. On speakerphone the Senator said: “I remember your values ​​and your tragedy. Greetings of friendship and trust to all of you, I will follow what you do”.

The new Councilor for Communication Vittorio Baroni, author of the Internet project, coordinated the meeting: "We have the opportunity to establish new relationships not on ideologies but on culture, research, friendship and economic development. In this perspective, we should consider the 14 bilateral cooperation agreements of the University of Zadar with Italian universities and 35 that the Erasmus+ mobility program unites 35 Italian universities to Dalmatia".

At the end of the online event via Zoom, attended by almost 100 people, Rachele Chantal Dell'Olio read a touching and unpublished poem entitled “In Honor of Zara”.

IN HONOR OF ZARA by Rachele Chantal Dell'Olio 

Zara x and the words of my father who was enlightened

When she told me about it.

Zara is full of families with pici scampadi

From 54 bombings that uprooted them

Zara is a warm and fragrant home

I've never seen it, but I imagined it.

Zara x and my ninth Tonchi with the crossbar and in hand the piron

With my fear of the tones “Santa Barbara and San Simon,

free me from this thunder, from this thunder and from this arrow,

Saint Barbara Blessed”

Zara is the dialect that warms your heart,

that every time you hear from him, even if you're a thousand miles away, you know he's at home.

Zara xe Calle Paradiso, my dad's house,

x and Calle Larga, Riva Vecia and Riva Nova.

Zadar has the most beautiful sunsets in the world and, I always hope,

that is with this image that my dad will forever be gone.

Zara is waiting for May 8th, and when will we go back?

He's already dreaming of his next trip, thinking, "God willing," I'll be there again.

Zara is waiting for postcards from Ulysses, from the newspaper Il Dalmata,

gatherings to sing together and, for some time now, also on February 10th.

Zara is for us to remember, through the stories of the real Zaratini,

through sad stories and happy stories.

Zara is my daughter's name in honor of our history,

to our roots to what we were, are and will be.

Zara is not forgotten because we will not forget

What has been hidden and has been denied.

A hidden story of the blood of innocents.

Rape, torture and deep black holes…somewhere…forget about it.

Even our sea was becoming deeper and darker than the foibe.

350.000 Italians turned into exiles in Nadal land.

But somehow we were left with strong fates

and with mourning in the heart and the sea of ​​Zara in the eyes

We are back to living, to remember and not to forget.