On Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, the community will host "TUTTI INSIEME SI PUÒ" (All Together We Can). The two-day event marks the 50th anniversary of a remarkable twin-city solidarity pact born in the darkest hours of 1976 between the Archdiocese of Bologna and the people of Val Resia.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, waves of young volunteers from the Emilia-Romagna region left their homes and headed north to the mountains of Friuli. They rolled up their sleeves to build emergency prefabricated housing and a makeshift church in the hamlet of Lischiazze. Beyond the physical bricks and mortar, these volunteers brought essential human warmth—animating days for isolated children and the elderly at a time when hope was scarce.
Fifty years on, that bond remains unbreakable. This upcoming weekend represents a collective opportunity to embrace those volunteers once more, renewing an extraordinary friendship with a simple, heartfelt message: "Thank you, and welcome back to Resia."
"This is a profoundly important event for our community—a debt of gratitude we intend to honor. But it is also a vital moment to plan new future initiatives for our regions alongside these old, yet lifelong friends."
— Anna Micelli, Mayor of Resia
The Weekend Program: Voices, Stories, and Memories
The celebrations balance spiritual remembrance with festive community sharing, designed to keep the living memory of the reconstruction alive for the next generation.
Saturday, June 13: Remembering the Roots of Solidarity
07:30 AM – Holy Mass: Celebrated by Father Alessandro Manaresi, Father Stefano Ottani, and Father Beppe Pierantoni at the Pieve di Prato di Resia, dedicated to the earthquake victims and the rescue workers.
10:00 AM – Photographic Exhibition & Community Meeting: Hosted at the "Rozajanska kultürska hiša" cultural center. The exhibition features powerful historical images by photographer "Gneo" Mario Romiti, capturing the raw, hard-working solidarity of those months in 1976.
12:30 PM – Free Community Lunch: Held at "La Tana" in Val Resia (Lischiazze), allowing residents and returning Emilian guests to break bread and swap old memories.
03:00 PM – Live Oral History Recordings: Interviews will be recorded at the Lischiazze church to permanently preserve the firsthand accounts of this extraordinary historical chapter.
Sunday, June 14: The Presence of Cardinal Zuppi
10:30 AM – Official Welcome: The community will welcome Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), at Piazza Tiglio.
11:00 AM – Solemn High Mass: Celebrated by Cardinal Zuppi at the Pieve di Prato di Resia, sealing the lifelong fraternal connection between the two ecclesiastical and civic communities.
12:30 PM – Free Community Lunch: A final convivial gathering at the Town Hall to toast to the future of the partnership.
A Model for the Future
The organizers have extended an open invitation to all citizens, neighboring valleys, and anyone who played a part in this historic recovery: "Join us this weekend: bring your old photos, your memories, or simply your desire to be together!"
While the community lunches are free of charge, RSVP booking was required by June 7 for organizational purposes. Full event updates, archival videos, and streaming options can be found on the official anniversary platform at www.50terremotofriuli.it and via official social media channels.
Ultimately, Val Resia’s celebration proves that the "Friuli Miracle" was not just about engineering or financial aid; it was built on a foundation of decentralized, grassroots human connection that continues to inspire five decades later.
