A special year

The year that is drawing to a close will remain indelibly etched in the collective memory of the Presidency and Board of Trustees and the employees of the Campana dei Caduti Foundation. The events at the Miravalle Hill in 2025 taught us all an important lesson. In a world plagued by violence and widespread violations of civil order imposed by the powerful, it is vital to have institutions committed daily - quietly but with consistent determination - to promoting peace, respect for human rights, and democratic freedoms.

The fruitful path traced exactly one hundred years ago by the visionary inventor of Maria Dolens, Father Antonio Rossaro, and continued with equal wisdom by successive Presidents - Father Eusebio Jori, Pietro Monti, and Alberto Robol - has made it possible to celebrate the Centenary of the monumental Bell. The occasion, while appropriately formal for such an important historical milestone, was also marked by closeness and warmth, thanks to a community that rightly regards Maria Dolens as an almost “family” presence, always near at hand.

Within the planned programme, the visits to the Miravalle Hill by Head of State Sergio Mattarella (19 July) and by the President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (4 October), were certainly the highlights. Widely covered by national and international media, these events left an indelible impression on all who had the privilege of attending (both were sold out.) The guests in attendance were able to hear, directly from these two distinguished figures, speeches marked by profound wisdom and dynamic foresight.

But, when scrolling through the calendar of events, how can we fail to mention the incredible Israeli/Palestinian concert by Noá and Miriam Toukan, which took place in extremely adverse weather conditions, in the end, adding to its charm? Or the refined musical performances by the Haydn Orchestra and the Guardia di Finanza Band, so different from each other, yet connected through the skillful blending of classical and modern repertoires? And who could forget the historic centre of Rovereto brought to life for three enchanting summer evenings as a huge open-air stage by the creativity of the artists of Teatro Potlach?

Returning to the institutional sphere, we cannot overlook the extraordinary session of the Provincial Council of Trento, held at the Miravalle Hill rather than, as is usually the case, at Palazzo Trentini, during which the Council unanimously adopted a resolution of significant political and social importance on the subject of Peace. The unusual setting made the session truly unprecedented.

The list could indeed go on, since the Centenary year featured dozens of events, both organised by the Foundation itself and promoted by other associations hosted by it.

While space prevents us from listing them all (the full list is available on our website for those interested), we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the public bodies - first and foremost the Autonomous Province of Trento and the Municipality of Rovereto - and to the private entities whose generous support, in terms of both ideas and resources, made it possible to carry out a programme of activities open to almost everyone, and notable for the excellence of its content and its well-rounded approach to all thematic sectors.

It hardly needs to be said that the positive outcome of the Centenary offers the Presidency and Board of Trustees - and my sincere thanks go to them, and to the officials for their crucial collaboration - the strongest motivation to pursue the Foundation’s initiatives with steadfast dedication in the year ahead and in the years to follow. While we cannot provide detailed previews at this time, given that the programme is not yet fully defined, it would appear that cycles of conferences on pressing international issues and the expansion of educational initiatives, for both local institutions and off-site, will be key priorities in the agenda for 2026.

In closing, on a different yet equally important note, it is worth highlighting that, in the early months of next year, Trentino will host a substantial part of the competitions of the XXV Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Having the opportunity to welcome some of the key figures - authorities, athletes, and accompanying persons - of such a prestigious mega-event to Miravalle Hill, allowing them to experience Maria Dolens firsthand, would undoubtedly be a source of great satisfaction and prestige for the Foundation. It would further strengthen its international vocation, already prominently reflected in the permanent display of nearly 100 national flags. Over the next few weeks, we will work with the appropriate authorities to assess the feasibility of this ambitious project. If the outcome is positive, we can begin preparing to move forward with the idea.

Reggente Marco Marsilli, Foundation President