Resistance 2026 – Republic and Constitution
A month of events to renew the memory of the Resistance: on April 24th, a speech by Cathy La Torre and the traditional torchlight procession followed by a live concert; on the 30th, a collective gesture to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Duccio Galimberti's birth
On the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the Liberation from Nazi-fascism, the Municipality of Cuneo is promoting a broad calendar of cultural, civic, and participatory events dedicated to the memory of the Resistance, the defense of rights, and reflection on the present. This program has been developed in collaboration with associations, cultural institutions, schools, and local organizations, with the aim of renewing the significance of April 25th as a shared heritage.
The program, titled "Resistances 2026 – Republic and Constitution," will open on April 13th in the Salone d'Onore del Comune with a new series of "Dialogues on Justice," dedicated to Piero Gobetti on the centenary of his death, through the book by Davide Mattiello. On April 17th, at the Spazio Incontri of the CRC Foundation, the series "Resistances Today – Informing to Resist" will address the theme of war as a human tragedy and environmental disaster, with talks by Antonello Pasini and John Mpaliza.
On April 18th, the "Biciclettata Resistente" (Resistant Bike Ride) returns for its third year: a bike ride through the city's historic landmarks, led by Professor Gigi Garelli, arriving at Arcipelago for a convivial snack. The following day, April 19th, the show "Ma chi fa la guerra?" (But Who Makes War?) will be performed at Arcipelago, a musical tale combining voice, narration, and accordion.
From April 21st to May 3rd, Largo Audiffredi will host a collective installation created with the city's primary and secondary schools: a collaborative effort that will reframe the perspectives of younger generations on memory and rights. On the evening of April 21st, at the Cinema Monviso, the Mondovisioni festival will screen the documentary "The Dialogue Police," followed by a discussion on the theme of freedom of expression.
On April 22nd, the book "The Paths of Freedom. The Val Pesio Band and the Renewal Formations" will be presented at the Historical Institute of the Resistance, while on April 23rd, in the San Paolo neighborhood, the book "Caterina Non Ci Sta" by Emilio Appiano will be presented. The book tells the story of a young woman who chooses to rebel against fascism and join the partisans.
On the afternoon of April 24th, at the Nuto Revelli Foundation, the "Cime di Parole" reading group will dedicate its meeting to the role of women in the Resistance and their legacy in contemporary civil struggles. In the evening, at the Parco della Resistenza, a public speech by Cathy La Torre will take place, followed by the traditional torchlight procession accompanied by the "Duccio Galimberti" city band. The evening will then continue in Largo Audiffredi for a live concert featuring Tiorà and Cucoma Combo, concluding a day dedicated to active and shared remembrance.
The morning of April 25th will be marked by the customary institutional commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation. In the evening, at 9:00 pm, the Toselli Theater will perform the play "Era un freddo giorno di sole," which will recount the eruption of Nazi-Fascist violence in the life of a small town and the transformation of a square into a place of martyrdom and remembrance.
The "Resistances Today" series will continue on April 29th with a meeting dedicated to the values of the Constitution and the Second Vatican Council, featuring Monsignor Corrado Lorefice and Nuccio Vara. Finally, on April 30th, Piazza Galimberti will host the "120 Lights for Duccio" initiative, a collective gesture to mark the 120th anniversary of Duccio Galimberti's birth: a similar number of people will simultaneously light a light, forming the number 120, in the center of the square. The event is open to the public, and residents are invited to participate, even as spectators, in this moment of shared remembrance. You can "self-nominate" to participate as a light bearer: interested parties can register using the form available at: https://forms.gle/zDMzJ1qrVgudtfK39.
Below is the calendar of events.
April 13, 5:30 PM | Hall of Honor, Cuneo City Hall
DIALOGUES ON JUSTICE "The Brilliant Antifascist" – Piero Gobetti on the centenary of his death, recounted in the new book by Davide Mattiello (President of Art.21 Piedmont) organized by the Cuneo branch of the ANPI and Liberavoce. Open to all (adults).
April 17, 9:00 PM | CRC Foundation Meeting Space
TODAY'S RESISTANCES – informing to resist "War as a human tragedy and environmental disaster" with Antonello Pasini and John Mpaliza, organized by the Don Aldo Benevelli Cultural Center and the Ignazio Vian Partisan Association. Open to all (adults).
April 18, 2:30 PM | Galimberti Square
RESISTANCE BIKE RIDE (third edition) A bike tour of Cuneo, taking in some of the most significant sites of the Resistance, narrated by Professor Gigi Garelli (director of the Institute of Resistance History). Arrival at Arcipelago (Via Meucci 32/34) and a convivial snack. Suitable for everyone (also suitable for families).
April 19, 6:00 PM | Archipelago
"But who's making war?" Performance by Massimiliano Carrino, with Massimiliano Carrino (vocals and guitar), Sonia Piccirillo (narrator), and Michele Schifano (accordion). Entrance reserved for ARCI members. Organized by Arcipelago APS. Open to everyone.
From April 21st to May 3rd | Largo Audiffredi
Collective installation resulting from workshops with primary, middle, and high schools in the Municipality of Cuneo. Open to schools and the public.
April 21, 8:30 PM | Monviso Cinema
MONDOVISIONI – Internazionale's documentaries "The Dialogue Police" + a talk with a guest expert on the right to freedom of expression and protest. Organized by Noau officina culturale. For everyone (adolescents/adults). APRIL 22, 9:00 PM | Historical Institute of the Resistance. PRESENTATION of The Paths of Freedom "The Val Pesio Band and the Renewal Formations" organized by the Don Aldo Benevelli Cultural Center and the Ignazio Vian Partisan Association. For everyone (adults).
April 23, 6:00 PM | Via LT Cavallo, San Paolo neighborhood
PRESENTATION of the book "Caterina Non Ci Sta" by Emilio Appiano. The book narrates the life of Caterina, a young woman growing up in an Italy marked by fascism and the Second World War, who finds the strength to rebel against the regime and join the partisans. Organized by the San Paolo Neighborhood Committee. Open to everyone (adolescents/adults).
April 24, 4:00 PM | Nuto Revelli Foundation
READING GROUP "Cime di Parole." The Resistance and Women. From women partisans and mothers of the founding fathers comes a voice of inspiration and guidance for women's resistance struggles today. The April reading group meeting will focus on a selection of passages on the themes of resistance, feminist struggles, and civil rights.
April 24, 8:30 PM | Resistance Park
SPEECH by Cathy La Torre. TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION accompanied by the Duccio Galimberti City Band. Followed by | Largo Audiffredi (Via Roma) LIVE CONCERT by Tiorà + Cucoma Combo (for everyone).
April 25, 9:00 PM | Toselli Theater
THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE “It Was a Cold Sunny Day” When the dark clouds of war and the ferocious ravens of Nazism overwhelm the lives of a small, quiet village, whose time is marked by the seasons and harvest time, every life is turned upside down and a square, once dedicated to quiet weekly markets, becomes a place of martyrdom and remembrance for one of the most tragic moments in local history. Organized by Accademia Teatrale G. Toselli. For everyone (adolescents/adults).
April 29, 9:00 PM | CRC Foundation Meeting Space
TODAY'S RESISTANCE – informing to resist "In the sign of hope. The values of the Italian Constitution and the Second Vatican Council" with Monsignor Corrado Lorefice and Nuccio Vara, organized by the Don Aldo Benevelli Cultural Center and the Ignazio Vian Partisan Association. Open to all (adults).
April 30, 9:00 PM | Galimberti Square
"120 Lights for Duccio." To mark the 120th anniversary of Duccio Galimberti's birth (April 30, 1906), the Municipality of Cuneo is organizing an initiative involving 120 people, each of whom will receive a light to be turned on simultaneously to form the number 120 in the center of the square. Citizens interested in participating as light bearers can register using the online form available at the following link: https://forms.gle/zDMzJ1qrVgudtfK39 . The event will be open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend, even if only as a spectator, to share in this gesture of collective remembrance.
The organizations organizing and coordinating the April 25th initiatives, together with the Municipality of Cuneo, are, in addition to the lead organization APS Lhi Balòs ETS: the Historical Institute of the Resistance and Contemporary Society of the Province of Cuneo; the Nuto Revelli ETS Foundation; ANPI ETS – Cuneo Provincial Committee; ANPI ETS – Cuneo branch; “Ignazio Vian” Partisan Association; “Don Aldo Benevelli” Cultural Center; ANPPIA – Cuneo branch; ANED – Cuneo branch; Liberavoce OdV Association – Cuneo Presidium; Noau ETS Cultural Association; Arcipelago APS. The funders, in addition to the Municipality of Cuneo, are: the CRC Foundation, ARCI Cuneo-Asti, CGIL, CISL, and UIL.
Updates can be followed on social media at https://www.instagram.com/resistenzeliberta/ and https://www.facebook.com/resistenzeliberta/.