“Different Twins. Trento and Trieste between Reality and Narrative” – A Discussion in Brussels on the Intertwined Fates of Two Symbolic Cities

On Saturday 21 June 2025 at 7:00 PM, the event entitled “Different Twins. Trento and Trieste between Reality and Narrative” will take place at the Centre Le chemin (chemin des Deux Maisons 71, 1200 Brussels), organised by the Associazione Trentini nel Mondo and the Associazione Giuliani nel Mondo.

Representing our Association will be Luca G. Manenti, who will offer a reflection on the parallel yet diverging paths of Trento and Trieste – two cities long united in patriotic narratives which, since the nineteenth century, have celebrated them as strongholds of Italian identity within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, presenting them as an inseparable pair.

Over time, the irredentist myth has been accompanied by an opposing interpretation that highlights the historical and cultural differences between the two urban centres. Manenti’s contribution seeks to move beyond these partial readings, restoring depth and nuance to the histories of Trento and Trieste – histories that are at once intertwined and distinct – through a scholarly and well-documented approach.

This initiative reflects our Association’s ongoing commitment to promoting historical and social thought, in keeping with the spirit of openness and critical rigour that characterised the work of Manlio Cecovini.