Italian
Treviso is preparing to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the bombing on April 7, 1944, an event that profoundly marked the city’s history. To honor the memory of the victims and preserve the remembrance of that tragic day, the municipal administration has organized a rich program of commemorative, institutional, and cultural initiatives.
TREVISO. The day of commemoration, which will take place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, will begin at 10:30 AM with the celebration of the Holy Mass at the Church of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice (Votive Church). The religious service will be officiated by the General Vicar Mons. Mauro Motterlini, offering a moment of reflection and prayer for the victims of the bombing.
At 12:15 PM, in Piazza Indipendenza, in front of the grand staircase of the Palazzo dei Trecento, there will be a ceremony for the laying of a laurel wreath at the plaque dedicated to the civilian victims of war. This solemn gesture aims to honor the sacrifice of those who lost their lives during the conflict.
Subsequently, at 12:50 PM, Piazza dei Signori will provide the backdrop for a moment of reflection while waiting for the tolling of the Civic Tower bell. During this suspended time, the Municipal Council of Boys will give voice to significant excerpts, while students from the “Francesco Manzato” music association will accompany the reading with musical interludes.
In the afternoon, at 5:00 PM, the unveiling of a marble plaque in memory of the children who died on April 7 is scheduled, followed by the celebration of the Holy Mass at the Tempietto di Santa Maria del Rovere, a particularly touching moment to honor the young victims of the conflict.
At 5:30 PM, the Salone del Palazzo dei Trecento will host a virtual tour of the places of Giuseppe Berto, accompanied by words from his novel “The Sky is Red.” Following this, it will be possible to participate in a guided tour of the exhibition dedicated to the Treviso writer.
The Church of San Nicolò will be the venue for the event “Restoring Beauty” at 6:30 PM. On this occasion, the restored painting “The Virgin and Saints Dominic and Francis intercede with Christ for the vices of humanity” by Francesco Da Ponte Bassano will be returned to the city, with musical interludes enriching the evening. The event is organized by the Rotary Club Treviso and the Antiqua Vox Foundation.
The commemorative day will conclude at 9:00 PM with the theatrical reading “Sirens – April 7 ’44,” organized by the cultural association Satiro Teatro, at the Auditorium of the Santa Caterina Museum.
The program of celebrations also includes other collateral events:
- Saturday, March 28, at 11:00 AM: Inauguration of the exhibition “Towards Glory, Giuseppe Berto, a Writer and His Archive,” open every weekend until Sunday, April 12, at the Salone del Palazzo dei Trecento.
- Wednesday, April 8, at 4:30 PM: Conference “The Allied Bombings of World War II on Veneto and the Case of Treviso,” organized by the Institute for the History of Resistance and Contemporary Society (Istresco), at the Salone del Palazzo dei Trecento.
- Thursday, April 9, at 8:45 PM: Concert “April 7 Remembrance, Message of Peace” organized by the City Musical Band “Domenico Visentin,” at the Auditorium Museo Santa Caterina (free entry).
The municipal administration invites citizens to participate in large numbers in the scheduled initiatives, to honor the memory of the bombing victims and to reaffirm the importance of peace and civil coexistence.
