Contact   |    Webcam

Centro di ricerche storiche Rovigno
Centar za povijesna istraživanja Rovinj
Središče za zgodovinska raziskovanja Rovinj

Centro di ricerche storiche Rovigno
Centar za povijesna istraživanja Rovinj
Središče za zgodovinska raziskovanja Rovinj





History

of the institution

The Centre for Historical Research is an institution of the Italian National Community that lives and operates in the territory of ​​Istria, Rijeka and Dalmatia, on whose behalf it exercises the right of historical research. In November 1968, the Italian Union for Istria and Rijeka, present-day Italian Union, put forward a proposal to establish a centre for historical studies of the Italian national community in Yugoslavia. It is an organization of Italians from the Republic of Croatia and Slovenia aimed at preserving and developing the national, cultural and linguistic identity of the Italians living in the said territories. 
On 12 February 1969, the Department of History originally founded with the task of gathering a large number of scholars and history enthusiasts evolved into the Centre for Historical Research based in Rovinj. In December 1969, Prof. Giovanni Radossi was appointed as its first director.

The Centre is situated in the heart of Rovinj’s historic core, in the vicinity of the Town Hall. Throughout history, the building was used as Fontico – St Damian’s public granary (15th–18th centuries), and later as the first headquarters of the Rovinj Tobacco Factory (1872). Since 1978, it has been the seat of the Centre for Historical Research, completely renovated and expanded in 2000, becoming the luxurious building it is today. Its inauguration took place in 2001 in the presence of the President of the Republic of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and the President of the Republic of Croatia Stjepan Mesić.

The institution strives to be a point of reference for the protection of the Italian national identity of the population of this region, whose decade-long efforts have generated a unique and priceless scientific and cultural heritage that requires special protection and valorisation. The Centre for Historical Research is a scientific research institute recognized as a model of excellence providing a place of encounter, cooperation and dialogue amongst scientists from the three countries. Furthermore, it has a pivotal role in the field of research and valorisation of the historical heritage of the Istrian-Kvarner region and the civic tradition of the Italian community. Owing to the support of the three countries, especially Italy, and then Croatia and Slovenia, the Centre is open to constant dialogue between the three cultures.

Activities

The Centre for Historical Research focuses on scientific research, publishing and documentary activities with the aim of preserving, promoting and developing Italian culture and identity and fostering the values ​​of cooperation and coexistence. It deals with the historiography of the border area that is closely associated with Croatian and Slovenian historiography, seen as a positive factor considering that only dialogue and respectful confrontation makes it possible to overcome differences in a strong pro-European perspective without divisions. 
The topics covered by the Centre’s publications (magazines, monographic series, documents) present a synthesis of research into all aspects and all time periods in this territory from antiquity to the present day. Particular attention is paid to the protection of the national identity of the Italian community in Istria, Rijeka and part of Dalmatia, seen as a single historical entity. In fact, the Centre has a very important task of documenting the life of the Italian national community that found itself outside Italian borders in the aftermath of the Second World War and the 1947 Peace Agreement. Great attention is paid to the collection and processing of archival materials concerning the socio-political and artistic-cultural activities in the area, especially those related to Italian nationality. Special consideration is dedicated to the identification, collection and cataloguing of archival material on the Second World War and the respective tragedy of the exodus of Italians from Istria, Rijeka and Dalmatia during and after the conflict.

The institution has a distinguished and recognized role – a scientific, cultural and civil “mission” within the minority community in the area where it operates. An open and dynamic approach to research and editorial programmes substantiates the fact that the institution is resolute about being the protagonist, coordinator and promoter of the above-mentioned research and activities within its sphere of competence. The work of the Centre for Historical Research undoubtedly contributes to the process of preserving the language and culture of the Italian population living in Croatia and Slovenia.