Florence marks 33rd anniversary of Via dei Georgofili bombing

A two-day programme of public events, performances and discussions will mark the 33rd anniversary of the Via dei Georgofili bombing, the mafia attack that struck the centre of Florence on the night of 26–27 May 1993, killing five people and damaging part of the city’s artistic heritage.

A night of remembrance in Piazza della Signoria

The commemorations will begin on Monday 26 May with “Aspettando le 1.04” (“Waiting for 1:04 a.m.”), a public event in Piazza della Signoria starting at 9.30 p.m. The title refers to the exact time when the bomb exploded near the Uffizi Gallery and the Torre dei Pulci, home of the Accademia dei Georgofili.

Among the speakers will be former Senate president and former national anti-mafia prosecutor Pietro Grasso, who will also remember magistrate Gabriele Chelazzi, the prosecutor who coordinated investigations into the 1993 mafia bombings and died in 2003. Magistrate and writer Annamaria Frustaci will also take part.

The evening programme will continue with the theatre performance Non ai vivi, ma ai morti, written and performed by Matteo Pecorini and Marta Materassi, followed by the concert Alba by the duo Madera Balza, featuring Monica Demuru and Natalio Mangalavite. Actress Giulia Weber will host the event.

Shortly before 1:04 a.m., participants will join a commemorative procession to Via dei Georgofili. The traditional laying of a laurel wreath will take place at the site of the explosion, accompanied by the sound of the Martinella, the historic bell associated with Florence’s civic ceremonies.

The memory of the 1993 attack

The bombing, carried out by the Sicilian mafia Cosa Nostra, killed Angela Fiume, Fabrizio Nencioni, and the couple’s two daughters, Nadia and Caterina, as well as university student Dario Capolicchio. It also caused severe damage to nearby buildings and artworks around the Uffizi Gallery.

Florence Mayor Sara Funaro said the anniversary remains an open wound in the history of both Florence and Italy, adding that the city continues to promote remembrance and civic awareness, especially among younger generations. She also recalled that Florence recently named the new bridge connecting the Bellariva and Gavinana districts after sisters Nadia and Caterina Nencioni.

Councillor for culture of memory and legality Benedetta Albanese said the memory of the Georgofili attack continues to raise questions about democracy, legality and civic responsibility in contemporary Italy.

Conference on justice and unresolved questions

A second event will take place on Tuesday 27 May at 5.30 p.m. in the Salone dei Cinquecento inside Palazzo Vecchio. The conference, titled Massacres and attacks: the incomplete mosaic of judicial truth, will focus on ongoing efforts to clarify unresolved aspects of mafia bombings in Italy.

Speakers will include lawyers representing associations of victims’ families, while anti-mafia prosecutor Nino Di Matteois also expected to attend. Video contributions from Salvatore Borsellino, Michele Riccio and Gianfranco Donadio are also planned.

The conference is organised by the Association of Families of the Victims of the Via dei Georgofili Massacre together with Antimafia 2000 and the Movimento Agende Rosse. Entry to the Salone dei Cinquecento requires advance booking by email, while the event will also be streamed live in another room inside Palazzo Vecchio, subject to available seating.

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