The prison of Saint Stephen, the ruins of a shrine, will live again – The Republic

ISLAND OF SANTO STEFANO (Ventotene ) – It was time to fascism and political confinement. The poor jailer finds himself on this rock transformed into a prison. He exclaims: “But where they sent me? C’agg ‘fatt’ ‘the evil?”. Guards or thieves, murderers, or persecuted by the regime: no fault deserves the suffocating embrace of a cell in Santo Stefano, islet just off Ventotene. And ‘all clear even seventy years later, in front of a ruin breathtaking. The news is that the prison will be released by the abandonment. So hopefully, having regard to eighty million euro promised by Matteo Renzi during the visit. Eighty million to revive walls and beams scarred by salt. The Ministry of Culture intends to recover this shrine of the anti-fascist resistance, making it a memorial museum and an altar-European dream Altiero Spinelli, who wanted to be buried here. If resources permit, a center for academic internships able to form the ruling class of the United States of Europe.
Weeds courtyard lost their battle with the marble plaque that recalls a political prisoner with a extraordinary destiny, “Within these walls – it says – where in the nineteenth century had suffered the fathers of the Renaissance, the fascist regime jailed Sandro Pertini, President of the Republic.” Paradoxically, the Bourbon structure built in 1797 holds the best of architectural additions Mussolini. It holds up, but is still likely to fall apart. The corridor leading to the cells is dirty and full of graffiti on the walls. A door, then opens the hell of Boxing: three floors, three groups circular made only of narrow holes detention. The model is the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. Only that the stage is entrusted to the prison guards, while those detained has not seen: the whole structure is like an immense chain where the prisoner may only meet with the look a little church in the middle of the courtyard. Before the enemies of the Kingdom and the murderers, then the Liberals and the convicts finally anarchists, communists, socialists: for all there was only putting the chaplain to mark the time of the sentence.

The group is one of the highest political prisoners and suffer under the weight of a shed built carelessly during the Fascist period. The cell number 32 has passed its Sandro Pertini. The cell doors are scarred by rust. One is even crooked, sagging. How is it that the cradle of the peoples of Europe, the land of a poster is reduced so much prophetic? Possible, but maybe you turn the page. Restructure cells, the courtyard, the external structure. Fight the erosion of the sea and the sun. Turn the barracks into a guesthouse. “We will host university students for internships – promises Matteo Renzi, together with Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini – and we will form the leadership of the European Union in the coming decades.” A school of lofty thoughts, taking up the plaque a few steps from the grave of the anarchist Gaetano Bresci.

Mr. Fabrizio, who for twenty years driving anyone who ventures to date, we hope. He is historical memory, self-appointed guardian of the ruins. Shows an old measure of a supervising judge against Spinelli. The charges against him? “Possession of paper and pencil. Games not allowed. Remarks unseemly. Possession of burnt matches to perform unauthorized writings. Attempts to communicate with the partner.” Can not remain just rubble.

Arguments:

jail on Boxing

ventotene

Starring:

Matteo Renzi

Altiero Spinelli

Sandro Pertini