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Ventotene, Santo Stefano And The European Dream

Salvatore is an expert in the history of Santo Stefano and a guide of the prison, which is officially closed to the public, on September 25, 2019. Ventotene lacked plaques or signs commemorating its historical events for many years. Between 1941 and 1942, amid the war rubble on this small island between Lazio and Campania, Altiero Spinelli and a small group of individuals drafted the Ventotene manifesto--a text advocating European unity. The island's history as a place of confinement spans 2,000 years, as evidenced by the remains of Julia's Roman villa, where Augustus' daughter was exiled. This legacy is preserved in local memory and can be seen in the remnants of former shops, lodgings, and canteens, as well as in a bookshop and publishing house dedicated to maintaining this heritage. In a period marked by renewed debate over the European project, Ventotene--reflecting a long history of both confinement and liberation--has been linked to pro-European sentiment. On the island, an independent bookshop, an annual meeting of young federalists, and a literature festival addressing themes of freedom and democracy have been established. (Photo by Andrea Savorani Neri/NurPhoto)

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