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July Snow | 82nd Anniversary of the Demolition of the Torre di Berta
Friday 31 July, 5.00 am – Piazza Torre di Berta
31 July 1944 – 2026
Once again this year, Sansepolcro is preparing to commemorate one of the most painful moments in its history with ‘July Snow’, a day dedicated to the memory of the Torre di Berta, a symbol of the town’s identity which was demolished on 31 July 1944 during the retreat of the Nazi army
The day will begin at 5.00 am with the traditional readings and tolling of the bells in remembrance, organised by the Sansepolcro Bell Ringers’ Group. Through historical accounts accompanied by music, the events that led to the destruction of the Torre di Berta will be recounted and, as is traditional, the bells will toll once for each year that has passed since its collapse. A moment of reflection that, every year, draws residents and enthusiasts to this symbolic site of collective memory, enhanced by readings from representatives of the Teatro Popolare in collaboration with ANPI, and by the violin music of Maestro Laureta Cuku Hodaj.
Throughout the day, Piazza Torre di Berta will come alive with events dedicated to art and creativity. The drawings created by schoolchildren during the workshops organised by the Municipal Library will illustrate the bond between the younger generations and the city’s main symbol, whilst artists and painters will produce impromptu works inspired by the Tower, offering a personal reinterpretation of a monument that lives on in the memory of the townspeople.
The evening will conclude with “La Torre torna a vivere” (The Tower Comes Back to Life), a evocative finale in which, thanks to a stirring display of lights and music and the participation of local associations, the Torre di Berta will symbolically return to illuminate Piazza Torre di Berta, presenting the town with an image rich in meaning and emotion
A whole day dedicated to remembrance, thanks to the collaboration with the Sansepolcro branch of the ANPI, the Gruppo Campanari and the shopkeepers of the historic centre alongside their trade associations, all united in a single thought and goal: to keep a precious memory alive, on a day that has, sadly, altered the very fabric of the city’s heart