On March 31, a ceremony was held in Rovereto, Italy, organized by the “Maria Dolens – Bell of the Fallen” Foundation to mark the hoisting of the Azerbaijani flag at Miravalle Hill, recognized as a universal symbol of peace and dialogue.
The ceremony featured a youth choir performing peace-themed songs, a wreath-laying at the Bell, and a series of speeches.
Reggente Marco Marsilli, President of the Foundation, welcomed Azerbaijan’s participation in the initiative and noted that the Azerbaijani flag is the 107th to be flown at Miravalle Hill — a universal symbol of peace and dialogue among nations.
In his address, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Italy Rashad Aslanov said that the 20th century left deep scars on the country and that the choice of March 31 was deliberate. He noted that in 1918, tens of thousands of civilians were killed on ethnic grounds in several regions. He also emphasized that a 1998 decree by President Heydar Aliyev recognized these events and declared March 31 the “Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis.”
Chilà Filomena, a representative of the Trento region, and Giulia Robol, Mayor of Rovereto, expressed their appreciation for Azerbaijan’s participation in the initiative and praised the country’s active role in international affairs, including its strategic partnership with Italy.
Subsequently, Ambassador Rashad Aslanov presented the National Flag of Azerbaijan, which was raised to the accompaniment of the National Anthem. The ceremony concluded with the ringing of the “Maria Dolens” Peace Bell.
Notably, “Maria Dolens” (the Bell of the Fallen), located on Colle di Miravalle above Rovereto, is a monumental bell dedicated to honoring the victims of all wars and promoting peace.
Cast from metal obtained from World War I artillery, it is considered the world’s largest pealing bell and is rung at sunset in memory of fallen soldiers.
