Sapienza to honour victims of Ardeatine massacre at academic year opening

Rome— Sapienza University of Rome will dedicate part of its upcoming academic year inauguration to the memory of students and professors killed in the Ardeatine massacre.

The ceremony, scheduled for 20 April, will mark the 723rd anniversary of the university’s foundation in 1303. This year’s event will include a commemorative segment proposed by rector Antonella Polimeni, focusing on members of the university community who were among those executed on 24 March 1944.

As part of the programme, a sketch of Le tre età alle Fosse Ardeatine, a sculptural group by Francesco Coccia and former Sapienza lecturer, will be unveiled. The work, depicting three symbolic figures representing different generations affected by the massacre, is intended for installation at the entrance to the Ardeatine memorial site.

Previously unseen archival material relating to 18 victims students, graduates and faculty members at the time will also be presented during the ceremony. The documents, discovered in Sapienza’s archives, include photographs, records and iconographic material compiled in a volume produced in collaboration with the ANFIM, available from 20 April.

A presentation outlining the historical links between the university and the victims will take place at 10:45 in the rectorate building, led by Polimeni alongside historians Umberto Gentiloni and Eliana Billi, as well as student representatives. Gentiloni will introduce the archival material, while Billi will explore the relationship between the university and Coccia.

The official inauguration ceremony will begin at 11:30, opening with remarks from the rector, followed by an address from Director General Loredana Segreto and contributions from student representatives.

Polimeni said the decision to include a commemorative segment reflects a broader commitment to preserving historical memory. “We wanted to dedicate part of the inauguration to the history and memory of the path of rebirth and democratic reconstruction in our country,” she said, referring to the period between the end of the Second World War and Italy’s 1946 referendum.

She described the Ardeatine site as “a foundational place in the memory of the Italian Republic”, symbolising both the cost of freedom and the collective responsibility to preserve its legacy. The initiative, she added, forms part of Sapienza’s ongoing efforts to promote awareness of history, solidarity and the fight against all forms of discrimination.

PS