On Saturday, May 25th, a commemorative event will be held in Riva del Garda dedicated to Lucillo Merci, a prominent figure in local and international history. Born in 1899 in Riva del Garda, Merci is remembered for his courage and dedication in saving over 600 Jews during World War II.
The event will consist of two distinct moments. The first appointment is at 5:30 PM at Palazzo Martini with a conference titled “La memoria è passato” (Memory is the past). During the meeting, Maria Luisa Crosina and Paolo Tessadri will dialogue with Nico Pirozzi, author of the book “Salonicco 1943. Agonia e morte della Gerusalemme dei Balcani” (Thessaloniki 1943. Agony and death of the Jerusalem of the Balkans). The evening will continue at 8:30 PM in the courtyard of the Rocca (in case of bad weather, at the San Giuseppe auditorium) with the concert “La speranza è del futuro” (Hope is for the future), performed by the young musicians of the Princeton High School Orchestra conducted by Robert Loughran.
Lucillo Merci: A Life in Service of Others
Lucillo Merci played a crucial role during his assignment as an Italian-German interpreter at the Royal General Consulate of Italy in Thessaloniki from October 4th, 1942. Alongside consuls Guelfo Zamboni, Giuseppe Castruccio, vice-consul Riccardo Rosenberg, and other Italian consular officials, Merci contributed to saving hundreds of lives by providing false documents and facilitating the passage of Jews from Thessaloniki to Athens.
Merci was born in Riva del Garda in 1899 and lived there until 1919. His father worked as an engineer for the Mori-Arco-Riva railway. Lucillo studied at the Magistrale Institute in Rovereto, where he graduated as a teacher.
Logistics Details
The event is organized by the Musica Riva association with the patronage of the Municipality of Riva del Garda. The honorary consul of Greece in Venice, Prof. Bruno Bernardi, will also be present.
To participate in the events, reservations are required on the website www.musicariva.org or by contacting the telephone numbers provided for additional information: 0464 554073 or 348 7610480 from Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM.
This tribute represents not only a moment of historical reflection but also an opportunity to honor a figure who demonstrated extraordinary courage in difficult times, significantly contributing to the salvation of many lives during one of the darkest periods of modern history.
Italian Version
