Via Duomo

Via Duomo, located in the historic center of San Donato Val di Comino, is a street steeped in history and memory. During World War II, between 1943 and 1944, this street was a crucial refuge for many Allied soldiers and interned Jews.

The houses along Via Duomo, with their basements and secret hiding places, offered protection to those fleeing Nazi persecution. Local families, with great courage and solidarity, hid these people, risking their lives, and contributed to the resistance against the German occupation.

The makeshift hiding places, secret passageways and attics used to conceal internees tell stories of selflessness and courage that still resonate in the walls of these ancient dwellings today.

In 1944, in the midst of political reconstruction and rebirth, Via Duomo was also the place where Attilio Tempesta founded the section of the Democrazia Cristiana (D.C.) in Val di Comino. Tempesta, a man of great vision and determination, chose this street to start a political movement that would have a significant impact on Italian political life in the postwar period.

The birth of the D.C. in this area represented a moment of hope and renewal for many citizens, laying the foundation for a democratic and free future. The political meetings and gatherings that took place in the houses on Cathedral Street were fundamental to the consolidation of democratic values in the region.

Via Duomo witnessed another crucial moment in Italian history: the 1946 Referendum, in which Italians were asked to choose between Monarchy and Republic. This historic event marked the end of the Monarchy and the birth of the Italian Republic.

The residents of San Donato Val di Comino, like those throughout the country, went to the polls to cast their votes in an atmosphere of great participation and expectation. Via Duomo, with its ancient walls and long history, was a silent observer of this momentous change. The discussions, debates and hopes of those days echoed along the street, reflecting the importance of the moment for the local community and the entire nation.

To walk along Via Duomo today is to immerse oneself in a journey through time, discovering the places that saw the birth and development of fundamental moments in Italian history. Every corner, every stone of this street tells a story of resistance, renewal and change. Visit Via Duomo to relive these historical events and to appreciate the cultural heritage of San Donato Val di Comino, a village that played a significant role in the history of Italy's twentieth century.