Slovenes In Italy
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Slovene minority in Italy (, ), also known as Slovenes in Italy (, ) is the name given to
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
citizens who belong to the autochthonous Slovene ethnic and linguistic minority living in the Italian autonomous region of
Friuli-Venezia Giulia Friuli-Venezia Giulia () is one of the 20 regions of Italy and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The regional capital is Trieste on the Gulf of Trieste, a bay of the Adriatic Sea. Friuli-Venezia Giulia has an area of and a ...
. The vast majority of members of the Slovene ethnic minority live in the Provinces of Trieste,
Gorizia Gorizia (; ; , ; ; ) is a town and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, Region ...
, and
Udine Udine ( ; ; ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic Sea and the Carnic Alps. It is the capital of the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity ...
. Estimates of their number vary significantly; the official figures show 52,194 Slovenian speakers in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as per the 1971 census, but Slovenian estimates speak of 83,000 to 100,000 people.Zupančič, Jernej (author), Orožen Adamič, Milan (photographer), Filipič, Hanzi (photographer): ''Slovenci po svetu''. In publication: ''Nacionalni atlas Slovenije'' (Kartografsko gradivo) / Inštitut za geografijo, Geografski inštitut Antona Melika. Ljubljana: Rokus, 2001. The Slovene minority in Italy enjoys legal protection of its collective rights, guaranteed by the Italian constitution and specific legislation, as well as by international treaties (especially the
London Memorandum The Treaty of Osimo was signed on 10 November 1975 by Italy and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Yugoslavia in Osimo, Italy, to definitively divide the Free Territory of Trieste between the two states: the port city of Trieste with a nar ...
of 1954), and bilateral agreements initially stipulated first between Italy and
Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...
(especially the
Treaty of Osimo The Treaty of Osimo was signed on 10 November 1975 by Italy and Yugoslavia in Osimo, Italy, to definitively divide the Free Territory of Trieste between the two states: the port city of Trieste with a narrow coastal strip to the north-west (Zon ...
of 1975), and since 1991 between Italy and
Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
. Since 1945, the Slovenes in Italy have enjoyed partial
cultural autonomy Minority rights are the normal individual rights as applied to members of racial, ethnic, class, religious, linguistic or gender and sexual minorities, and also the collective rights accorded to any minority group. Civil-rights movements often ...
, including an education system in Slovene. They have a wide net of cultural and civic associations. The Slovene language is co-official in many of the municipalities with presence of the Slovene minority, and visual bilingualism is applied in most of the non-urban settlements with traditional Slovene presence. However, the implementation of these rights largely depends on the local administrations; thus, the situation varies significantly from area to area. Both Italy and Slovenia promote Slovene culture in Friuli-Venezia Giulia through subsidies for Slovene associations and organizations.


Name

The denomination “Slovenes in Italy” is preferred to “Italian Slovenes” or “Slovene Italians” due to historical reasons and reasons of identity. The Slovenes of the
Julian March The Julian March ( Croatian and ), also called Julian Venetia (; ; ; ), is an area of southern Central Europe which is currently divided among Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia.
or Venezia Giulia (the present-day Provinces of Trieste and
Gorizia Gorizia (; ; , ; ; ) is a town and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, Region ...
) became Italian citizens only with the
Treaty of Rapallo Following World War I there were two Treaties of Rapallo, both named after Rapallo, a resort on the Ligurian coast of Italy: * Treaty of Rapallo, 1920, an agreement between Italy and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (the later Yugoslav ...
of 1920. In the late 1920s and 1930s, many of them supported underground
anti-Fascist Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were op ...
groups, such as
TIGR TIGR (an acronym of the place-names ''Trieste, Trst'', ''Istria, Istra'', ''Gorizia, Gorica'', and ''Rijeka, Reka''), fully the Revolutionary Organization of the Julian March T.I.G.R. (), was a Militant (word), militant Anti-fascism, anti-fascis ...
. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
large portions of the population took part in the
Yugoslav partisan movement The Yugoslav Partisans,Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian language, Macedonian, and Slovene language, Slovene: , officially the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia sh-Latn-Cyrl, Narodnooslobodilačka vojska i partizanski odr ...
, and between 1945 and 1947, many of them actively supported the annexation to
Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...
. In the aftermath of World War II, their integration in the Italian state was slow and difficult: much of the anti-Slav Fascist legislation (for example, the forced Italianization of family names) remained valid, and in the context of the
Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
, the Slovene minority was regarded by many political parties, as well as by segments of State institutions, as a potential Yugoslav
Trojan Horse In Greek mythology, the Trojan Horse () was a wooden horse said to have been used by the Greeks during the Trojan War to enter the city of Troy and win the war. The Trojan Horse is not mentioned in Homer, Homer's ''Iliad'', with the poem ending ...
. After 1947, the term ''zamejski Slovenci'' (literally, 'Slovenes beyond the border') started to be used by the Yugoslav press and institutions, especially in
Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
. Initially, this term referred to all Slovene minorities residing outside Yugoslavia (in addition to the Slovenes in Italy, also the
Carinthian Slovenes Carinthian Slovenes or Carinthian Slovenians (; ; ) are the Indigenous peoples, indigenous minority of Slovenes, Slovene ethnicity, living within borders of the Austrian state of Carinthia, neighboring Slovenia. Their status of the minority group ...
and
Hungarian Slovenes Hungarian Slovenes ( Slovene: ''Madžarski Slovenci'', ) are an autochthonous ethnic and linguistic Slovene minority living in Hungary. The largest groups are the Rába Slovenes (, dialectically: ''vogrski Slovenci, bákerski Slovenci, porábsk ...
). This is still the way the term is used by state institutions in Slovenia. However, because alternative terms exist for the Slovene minorities in Austria and Hungary, the term ''zamejski Slovenci'' or ''Zamejci'' (< ''za'' 'behind' + ''meja'' 'border' + ''ci'', a suffix) tends to be used mostly for the Slovenes in Italy. This term is often used also by the Slovenes in Italy themselves, and it is considered a neutral and politically correct term.


Geographical extension

The Slovene minority in Italy lives in the autonomous region
Friuli-Venezia Giulia Friuli-Venezia Giulia () is one of the 20 regions of Italy and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The regional capital is Trieste on the Gulf of Trieste, a bay of the Adriatic Sea. Friuli-Venezia Giulia has an area of and a ...
, more precisely, in the provinces of Trieste,
Gorizia Gorizia (; ; , ; ; ) is a town and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, Region ...
and
Udine Udine ( ; ; ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic Sea and the Carnic Alps. It is the capital of the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity ...
. Slovene immigrants living in other parts of Italy are not considered as members of the minority. Slovenes live along the border with
Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
. Their traditional area of settlement includes: * the hinterland territory of the Province of Trieste (except for the town center of
Muggia Muggia (; ; ) is an Italian (municipality) in the Province of Trieste, regional decentralization entity of Trieste, in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia on the border with Slovenia. It has 12,703 inhabitants. Lying on the eastern flank of th ...
, which was until 1945 a homogeneous
Istrian Italian Istrian Italians (; ; ) are an ethnic group from the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic region of Istria in modern northwestern Croatia and southwestern Slovenia. Istrian Italians descend from the original Latinized population of Roman Empire, Roman Istria# ...
urban settlement); * a thin strip of territory along the border with Slovenia in the Province of Gorizia, including some neighborhoods of
Gorizia Gorizia (; ; , ; ; ) is a town and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, Region ...
; * the mountainous area of north-east
Friuli Friuli (; ; or ; ; ) is a historical region of northeast Italy. The region is marked by its separate regional and ethnic identity predominantly tied to the Friulians, who speak the Friulian language. It comprises the major part of the autono ...
in the Province of Udine, known historically as
Venetian Slovenia Slavia Friulana, which means Friulian Slavia (), is a small mountainous region in northeastern Italy and it is so called because of its Slavic population which settled here in the 8th century AD. The territory is located in the Italian region of ...
, comprising the
Natisone The Natisone (; ; ) is a river in Slovenia and Italy. It flows for some time as a border river between Slovenia and Italy, continues in Slovenia and then crosses the border and continues in Eastern Friuli, in northeastern Italy. It is the main tri ...
Valley, the upper Torre Valley, and the Resia Valley; * the Canale Valley in the Province of Udine, in the north-easternmost part of Italy, on the border with
Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
and Slovenia. Today the Slovene minority is present in 32 municipalities in the region: 6 in the Province of Trieste, 6 in the Province of Gorizia and 20 in the Province of Udine. In 16 of them, they are the majority of the population. In addition to these, since the early 1920s, the Slovenes have been immigrating to the industrial areas of the lower Isonzo valley, to the lowland areas around
Monfalcone Monfalcone (; Venetian language#Regional variants, Bisiacco: ; ; ; archaic ) is a town and (municipality) in the Province of Gorizia, Regional decentralization entity of Gorizia in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy, located on the Gulf of Tr ...
, known as Bisiacaria, and to larger Friulian cities (such as
Udine Udine ( ; ; ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic Sea and the Carnic Alps. It is the capital of the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity ...
,
Pordenone Pordenone (; Venetian language, Venetian and ) is a city and (municipality) in the Italy, Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the capital of the Province of Pordenone, Regional decentralization entity of Pordenone. The name comes from Lati ...
, and others). The former are nowadays considered members of the Slovene minority and thus enjoy certain collective minority rights, while the latter do not. The Slovene language is officially recognized in the following 32 municipalities, even though in many of these muncicipalities the presence of the Slovene minority is very small, representing as little as 2% of the population in some areas: In the Province of Trieste: *
Duino-Aurisina Duino-Aurisina (; , also ; ) is a (municipality) in the regional decentralization entity of Trieste, in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Lying near the border with Slovenia, it has a substantial Slovene minority. Duino-Aurisina is ...
(''Devin-Nabrežina'') *
Monrupino Monrupino () is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Trieste in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about north of Trieste, on the border with Slovenia. , it had a population of 848 and an area of .All ...
(''Repentabor'') *
Muggia Muggia (; ; ) is an Italian (municipality) in the Province of Trieste, regional decentralization entity of Trieste, in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia on the border with Slovenia. It has 12,703 inhabitants. Lying on the eastern flank of th ...
(''Milje'') *
San Dorligo della Valle San Dorligo della Valle (; or ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Trieste in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about southeast of Trieste, on the border with Slovenia. it had a population of 6,0 ...
(''Dolina'') *
Sgonico Sgonico (; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Trieste in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste, on the border with Slovenia. , it had a population of 2,130 and an area of ...
(''Zgonik'') *
Trieste Trieste ( , ; ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital and largest city of the Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as of the Province of Trieste, ...
(''Trst'') In the Province of Gorizia: *
Cormons Cormons or Cormòns (; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Gorizia in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about west of Gorizia, on the border with Slovenia. Cor ...
(''Krmin'') *
Doberdò del Lago Doberdò del Lago (; Venetian language#Regional variants, Bisiacco: ; ) is a (municipality) in the Province of Gorizia, Regional decentralization entity of Gorizia in the Italy, Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of ...
(''Doberdob'') *
Dolegna del Collio Dolegna del Collio (; Standard Friulian: ; Southeastern Friulian: ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Gorizia in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about northwest o ...
(''Dolenje v Brdih'') *
Gorizia Gorizia (; ; , ; ; ) is a town and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, Region ...
(''Gorica'') *
Monfalcone Monfalcone (; Venetian language#Regional variants, Bisiacco: ; ; ; archaic ) is a town and (municipality) in the Province of Gorizia, Regional decentralization entity of Gorizia in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy, located on the Gulf of Tr ...
(''Tržič'') *
Ronchi dei Legionari Ronchi dei Legionari ( Bisiacco: ; , , ) is a (municipality) in the regional decentralization entity of Gorizia in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northeast Italy, about southwest of Gorizia and northwest of Trieste. It is the location of Trieste – ...
(''Ronke'') * San Floriano del Collio (''Števerjan'') *
Savogna d'Isonzo Savogna d'Isonzo (; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Gorizia in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about southwest of Gorizia, on the border with Slovenia. The ...
(''Sovodnje ob Soči'') In the Province of Udine: * Attimis (''Ahten'') *
Cividale del Friuli Cividale del Friuli (, locally ; ; ) is a town and (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine, part of the North-Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The town lies above sea-level in the foothills of the eastern Alps, ...
(''Čedad'') *
Drenchia Drenchia (; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about north of Trieste and about northeast of Udine, on the border with Slovenia. Drenchia is located on ...
(''Dreka'') *
Grimacco Grimacco (; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about northeast of Udine, on the border with Slovenia, and borders the foll ...
(''Grmek'' or ''Garmak'') * Lusevera (''Bardo'' or ''Brdo'') *
Montenars Montenars () is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about north of Udine. , it had a population of 554 and an area of .All dem ...
(''Gorjani'') *
Nimis Nimis () is a town and (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine, Friuli, in the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, near the border with Slovenia. It is located at the foot of Mount Bernadia, home to a ...
(''Neme'') *
Pontebba Pontebba (; ; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Geography Pontebba, named after meaning "bridge", is situated at the confluence of the Pontebbana creek and th ...
(''Tablja'') *
Prepotto Prepotto (; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about east of Udine, on the border with Slovenia. , it had a population ...
(''Praprotno'') *
Pulfero Pulfero (; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about northeast of Udine, on the border with Slovenia, and borders the foll ...
(''Podbonesec'') * Resia (''Rezija'') * San Leonardo (''Podutana'' or ''Šent Lienart'') *
San Pietro al Natisone San Pietro al Natisone (, locally ; ; ) is a (municipality) in the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italy, Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about northeast of Ud ...
(''Špeter Slovenov'' or ''Špietar'') *
Savogna Savogna (, locally ; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about northeast of Udine, on the border with Slovenia. Savogn ...
(''Sovodnje'') *
Stregna Stregna (, locally ; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about northeast of Udine, on the border with Slovenia, and borde ...
(''Srednje'') * Taipana (''Tipana'') *
Tarcento Tarcento (; ) is a small city and (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of north-eastern Italy. The town officially became a city when the local church was given back its rank of . H ...
(''Čenta'') *
Tarvisio Tarvisio ( German and ; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional Decentralization Entity of Udine, in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. Geography The town is in the Canal Valley (''Val Canale'') between the Carnic Alps and Ka ...
(''Trbiž'') *
Torreano Torreano (; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about northwest of Trieste and about northeast of Udine, on the border with Slovenia. As of 31 December ...
(''Tavorjana'')


Ethnic and territorial identity

The Slovene minority in Italy is highly differentiated along geographic, cultural-historical, identity and linguistic lines. In cultural-historical terms, three separate groups can be differentiated: the Slovenes of the
Julian March The Julian March ( Croatian and ), also called Julian Venetia (; ; ; ), is an area of southern Central Europe which is currently divided among Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia.
(the Provinces of Trieste and Gorizia), the Slovenes from
Venetian Slovenia Slavia Friulana, which means Friulian Slavia (), is a small mountainous region in northeastern Italy and it is so called because of its Slavic population which settled here in the 8th century AD. The territory is located in the Italian region of ...
, and the Slovenes from the Canale Valley (in the Province of Udine). Each of these three groups has had a significantly different history, which resulted in different identities. The Slovenes in the Resia Valley are sometimes considered as a fourth group, due to their specific linguistic features and separate identity; nevertheless, they share a common history, as well as similar cultural and linguistic features with the Slovenes from Venetian Slovenia.


Slovenes of Trieste and Gorizia

The Slovenes living in the Provinces of Trieste and Gorizia shared, until 1918, the same history with most other
Slovenes The Slovenes, also known as Slovenians ( ), are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Slovenia and adjacent regions in Italy, Austria and Hungary. Slovenes share a common ancestry, Slovenian culture, culture, and History of Slove ...
: by the end of the 15th century, they were included in the
Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...
, and in the 19th century they actively participated in the Slovene national revival. Between 1849 and 1918, they were part of the Austrian administrative region known as
Austrian Littoral The Austrian Littoral (, , , , ) was a crown land (''Kronland'') of the Austrian Empire, established in 1849. It consisted of three regions: the Margraviate of Istria in the south, Gorizia and Gradisca in the north, and the Imperial Free City ...
, and were known as Littoral Slovenes (''Primorski Slovenci''). After 1918, they came under
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
administration and were included in the region known as the
Julian March The Julian March ( Croatian and ), also called Julian Venetia (; ; ; ), is an area of southern Central Europe which is currently divided among Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia.
(''Venezia Giulia''). They shared the same fate as other Slovenes in the Julian March: they were subjected to
Fascist Italianization Italianization ( ; ; ; ; ; ) is the spread of Italian culture, language and identity by way of integration or assimilation. It is also known for a process organized by the Kingdom of Italy to force cultural and ethnic assimilation of the nati ...
, which gave rise to pro-Yugoslav irredentism. In 1947, after World War II, a new border between Italy and Yugoslavia was drawn, dividing the Julian March between the two states. The border was artificial, insofar as it was not based on any significant historical or geographical divides. In many cases, the border separated families and ran through fields and estates. All these reasons contributed to the strong connection between the Slovenes who remained in Italy with their counterparts that were annexed to Yugoslavia. Until the 1950s and 1960s, the Slovenes from the Provinces of Gorizia and Trieste frequently referred to themselves as Littoral Slovenes. Since the 1960s, this identification with the
Slovenian Littoral The Slovene Littoral, or simply Littoral (, ; ; ), is one of the traditional regions of Slovenia. The littoral in its name – for a coastal-adjacent area – recalls the former Austrian Littoral (''Avstrijsko Primorje''), the Habsburg poss ...
has faded, but it can still be traced in the names of certain institutions, most notably in the title of the Slovene daily newspaper of Trieste, called ''
Primorski dnevnik (), mostly known as ''Primorski'', is a Slovene language daily newspaper published in Trieste, Italy. It is the only Slovene daily in any country other than Slovenia, and one of the three historical daily newspapers in Italy published in a langu ...
'' which means “The Littoral Daily”. Between the 1940s and 1960s, the Slovenes from the Provinces of Gorizia and Trieste established the infrastructure of minority organizations that now serve the needs of the whole minority. They have enjoyed a certain degree of cultural autonomy (the most important feature being the education system in Slovene) since 1945, and they have maintained strong relations with Slovenia, especially with the neighboring border areas of the Slovenian Littoral. In 1986 the Slovenian community founded the football club Kras Repen, which locates its fan base among the Slovenes in Italy.


Venetian Slovenia

Venetian Slovenia ( or ''Benečija'', ) is the traditional name for Slovene-speaking areas in the valleys of upper
Natisone The Natisone (; ; ) is a river in Slovenia and Italy. It flows for some time as a border river between Slovenia and Italy, continues in Slovenia and then crosses the border and continues in Eastern Friuli, in northeastern Italy. It is the main tri ...
and Torre rivers in eastern
Friuli Friuli (; ; or ; ; ) is a historical region of northeast Italy. The region is marked by its separate regional and ethnic identity predominantly tied to the Friulians, who speak the Friulian language. It comprises the major part of the autono ...
(currently in the
Province of Udine The province of Udine (; ; ; ; ) was a province in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, bordering Austria and Slovenia, with the capital in the city of Udine. Abolished on 30 September 2017, it was reestablished in 2019 as the Re ...
). The history of these areas has been strongly linked to the history of Friuli. Unlike most other ethnic Slovene territories (including the areas of Gorizia and Trieste), this region was part of the
Venetian Republic The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...
for around 350 years (hence the name of the region). During that period, they enjoyed a large degree of autonomy. The Slovenes in this area were annexed to Italy together with the rest of the Venetia region in 1866, that is, half a century before the Slovenes of Gorizia and Trieste, who remained under Austrian rule until after
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. For long, the identity of the local Slovenes was mostly a linguistic and, to an extent, an ethnic one, but not a national one. The Slovenes of these areas lacked any form of collective minority or linguistic rights until the year 2000, when the Law for the Defense of the Slovene-Speaking Minority was passed by the Italian Parliament.


Canale Valley Slovenes

Around 3,000 Slovenes live in the Canale Valley in the north-easternmost part of the
Province of Udine The province of Udine (; ; ; ; ) was a province in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, bordering Austria and Slovenia, with the capital in the city of Udine. Abolished on 30 September 2017, it was reestablished in 2019 as the Re ...
. The valley is currently divided among three municipalities:
Tarvisio Tarvisio ( German and ; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional Decentralization Entity of Udine, in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. Geography The town is in the Canal Valley (''Val Canale'') between the Carnic Alps and Ka ...
(''Trbiž''),
Malborghetto Valbruna Malborghetto Valbruna (; ; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, north-east Italy. Geography Malborghetto-Valbruna is located about northwest of Trieste and about northeast of the re ...
(''Naborjet - Ovčja vas''), and
Pontebba Pontebba (; ; ) is a (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Geography Pontebba, named after meaning "bridge", is situated at the confluence of the Pontebbana creek and th ...
(''Tablja''). Most of the local Slovenes live in the first two, representing around half of the population in Malborghetto Valbruna and a lower percentage in Tarvisio. Until 1918, the Canale Valley (''Kanalska dolina'') was part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...
. Since the Middle Ages, it was a part of the
Duchy of Carinthia The Duchy of Carinthia (; ; ) was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, and was the first newly created Imperial State after the original German stem duchies. Car ...
. The local Slovene speakers shared the same history, traditions and linguistic features with other
Carinthian Slovene Carinthian Slovenes or Carinthian Slovenians (; ; ) are the indigenous minority of Slovene ethnicity, living within borders of the Austrian state of Carinthia, neighboring Slovenia. Their status of the minority group is guaranteed in principle b ...
s. According to the last Austrian census of 1910, the valley had around 9,000 inhabitants, among whom around a third were Slovene speakers, with the remainder
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
speakers. In 1918, after the end of World War I, the valley was occupied by the Italian Army, and in 1919 it was officially annexed to Italy. In the 1920s and 1930s, many Italians were settled in this area, which bordered both Austria and
Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...
. In 1939, the
South Tyrol Option Agreement The South Tyrol Option Agreement (; ) was an agreement in effect between 1939 and 1943, when the native German and Ladin-speaking people in South Tyrol and several other municipalities of northern Italy, which had belonged to the Austrian Empire ...
between Italy and
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...
was also applied to ethnic Germans in the area; as a consequence, most of the German-speaking population was resettled to neighboring
Carinthia Carinthia ( ; ; ) is the southernmost and least densely populated States of Austria, Austrian state, in the Eastern Alps, and is noted for its mountains and lakes. The Lake Wolayer is a mountain lake on the Carinthian side of the Carnic Main ...
. New settlers from other parts of Italy gradually took their place, which significantly altered the ethnic composition of the valley. Nowadays, Slovene is still spoken in several villages in the valley, especially Valbruna (''Ovčja vas''), Camporosso in Valcanale (''Žabnice''), Ugovizza (''Ukve''), and San Leopoldo (''Lipalja vas''). There has been a revival of Slovene language in these villages after 1990, with a focus on the younger generations.


Resia Valley

The inhabitants of the Resia Valley (''Rezija'') in north-western
Friuli Friuli (; ; or ; ; ) is a historical region of northeast Italy. The region is marked by its separate regional and ethnic identity predominantly tied to the Friulians, who speak the Friulian language. It comprises the major part of the autono ...
speak a specific dialect of Slovene, known as Resian. Due to its specific phonetic features and archaic grammar, Resian is not mutually intelligible with standard Slovene and with most other
Slovene dialects In a purely dialectological sense, Slovene dialects ( , ) are the regionally diverse varieties that evolved from old Slovene, a South Slavic language of which the standardized modern version is Standard Slovene. This also includes several di ...
. Historically and culturally (as well as linguistically), Resia could be considered a part of
Venetian Slovenia Slavia Friulana, which means Friulian Slavia (), is a small mountainous region in northeastern Italy and it is so called because of its Slavic population which settled here in the 8th century AD. The territory is located in the Italian region of ...
. According to Italian and regional legislation, Resians are considered as part of the Slovene minority in Italy; however, there are strong local movements that oppose identification with Slovenes and Slovene language, and defend a separate Resian identity.


Notable Slovenes in Italy

Notable Slovenes, who were either born in what is today Italy, or who spent a considerable part of their lives in these area, include:


Actors, directors and showmen

* Miranda Caharija - actress * Ferdo Delak - theatre and film director, journalist *
George Dolenz George Dolenz (born Jure Dolenc; akas: Giorgio Dolenz and George Dolentz; January 5, 1908 February 8, 1963) was an American film actor born in Trieste (then part of Austria-Hungary, now Italy), in the city's Slovene community. Biography Un ...
- film actor * Boris Kobal - film director, actor and comedian *
Andro Merkù Andro may refer to: *Andro (name) * ''Andro'' (album), a 2020 album by Tommy Lee *Andro, Imphal East, a town in Manipur, India *A slang word for anabolic steroids *Androstenedione, a steroid, often called ''andro'' or ''andros'' for short * An Dro ...
- comedian *
Franco Giraldi Franco Giraldi (11 July 1931 – 2 December 2020) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Komen from an Italian father and a Slovene mother, Giraldi spent his childhood and adolescence between the Carso, Triest ...
- film director and screenwriter


Architects and designers

* Franko Luin - type designer *
Boris Podrecca Boris Podrecca (born 30 January 1940 in Belgrade) is a Slovene-Italian architect and urban designer living in Vienna, Austria. Podrecca is considered by some critics a pioneer of postmodernism. He took a new, more tolerant attitude towards histo ...
- architect *
Viktor Sulčič Viktor Sulčič (1895 - 1973), also known as Víctor (or Victorio) Sulcic, was a Slovenian born Art Deco architect in Argentina. He was born in 1895 in Križ (in Italian ''Santa Croce'') near Trieste. He completing his studies of architecture in ...
- architect


Authors

*
Vladimir Bartol Vladimir Bartol (24 February 1903 – 12 September 1967) was a writer from the Slovene minority in Italy. He is best known for his 1938 novel ''Alamut'', the most popular work of Slovene literature around the world, which has been translated int ...
- writer * Andrej Budal - writer and translator *
Igo Gruden Igo Gruden (18 April 1893 – 29 November 1948) was a Slovene poet and translator. He was born as Ignacij Gruden in the small fishing village of Aurisina near Trieste, then part of the Austro-Hungarian County of Gorizia and Gradisca (now in Ita ...
- poet *
Dušan Jelinčič Dušan Jelinčič (born 1953) is a writer and a journalist from the community of Slovene minority in Italy from Trieste, Italy.Jovan Vesel Koseski - poet *
Miroslav Košuta Miroslav Košuta (born 11 March 1936) is a Slovenes, Slovene poet, playwright and translator from Križ, Sežana, Križ by Trieste, a younger representative of Intimism (Slovene poetry), Intimism and Socialist Realism. On 7 February 2011, he recei ...
- poet *
Boris Pahor Boris Pahor, OMRI (; 26 August 1913 – 30 May 2022) was a Slovene novelist from Trieste, Italy, who was best known for his heartfelt descriptions of life as a member of the Slovenian minority in pre–Second World War increasingly fascist Ita ...
- writer *
Alojz Rebula Alojz Rebula (June 21, 1924 – October 23, 2018) was a Slovene writer, playwright, essayist, and translator, and a prominent member of the Slovene minority in Italy. He lived and worked in Villa Opicina in the Province of Trieste, Italy. He wa ...
- writer and essayist from *
Josip Ribičič Josip Ribičič (3 November 1886 – 7 June 1969) was a Slovenes, Slovene writer, known as an author of popular children's literature. Life He was born as Josip Ribičić in Baška, Croatia, Baška on the island of Krk (now in Croatia, then par ...
- writer *
Zora Tavčar Zora Tavčar (born 2 October 1928) is a Slovene writer, essayist and translator, living in Opicina ( Slovenian: Opčine) in the suburbs of Trieste, Italy. She was married to a notable member of the Slovene minority in Italy, writer Alojz Rebula ...
- writer, essayist and translator * Stanko Vuk - poet and Catholic political activist


Journalists

* Jurij Gustinčič - journalist * Miran Hrovatin - photographer and camera operator * Demetrio Volcic/Dimitrij Volčič - journalist, author and politician * Sergio Tavčar - journalist * Sergio Canciani - journalist * Alessandro Saša Ota - journalist and photographer * Barbara Gruden - journalist * Vojmir Tedoldi - journalist


Musicians

* Edi Bucovaz - musician and singer *
Marij Kogoj Marij Kogoj Marij Julij Kogoj (Trieste, 20 September 1892 – Ljubljana, 25 February 1956) was a Slovenian composer and writer of Italian birth. He is noted for his expressionist music, including the opera ' ''(Black Masks)'', work that was well r ...
- composer and writer * Denis Novato - accordion player *
Alexander Gadjiev Alexander Gadjiev ( Slovene: ''Aleksander Gadžijev'') (born 23 December 1994) is an Italian-Slovenian classical pianist. Biography Gadjiev studied at the Mozarteum University Salzburg under Pavel Gililov and the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisl ...
- classical pianist


Painters

*
Milko Bambič Milko Bambič (26 April 1905 – 20 May 1991) also known by the nicknames Cvetanov and Banetov, was a prolific illustrator, cartoonist, caricaturist, inventor, children's writer, publicist, and painter from the Slovene minority in Italy ( ...
- author, cartoonist, caricaturist, children's writer, illustrator, inventor and painter *
Franc Kavčič Franz Caucig, Franco Caucig or Francesco Caucig, also known in Slovene language, Slovene as Franc Kavčič or Frančišek Caucig (4 December 1755, Gorizia – 17 November, 1828, Vienna) was a Neoclassicism, Neoclassical painter and draughtsman of ...
- painter *
Avgust Černigoj Avgust Černigoj, also known in Italian as Augusto Cernigoi (August 24, 1898 – November 17, 1985), was a Yugoslav-era Slovenian painter known for his avant-garde experiments in Constructivism. Biography He was born in Trieste, to a Sloven ...
- painter *
Gojmir Anton Kos Gojmir Anton Kos (January 24, 1896 – May 22, 1970) was a Slovene academy-trained painter, photographer, and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. Gojmir was born in the town of Gorizia (then part of Austria-Hungary, now in Ita ...
- painter *
Zoran Mušič Zoran Mušič (12 February 1909 – 25 May 2005), baptised as Anton Zoran Musič, was a Slovene painter, printmaker, and draughtsman. He was the only painter of Slovene descent who managed to establish himself in the elite cultural circles of ...
- painter *
Klavdij Palčič Klavdij Palčič (born 5 August 1940 in Trieste, Italy) is a painter, print artist. After graduating from the Secondary School of Science in Trieste, Palčič's plan was to study political sciences, but he changed his mind and entered the Venice S ...
- painter and print artist * Lojze Spacal - painter * Lojze Špacapan - painter * Jožef Tominc - painter * Edvard Stepančič - painter * Edvard Zajec - painter and graphic artist


Politicians

* Engelbert Besednjak - politician, lawyer and journalist * Darko Bratina - politician, sociologist and film theorist * Miloš Budin - politician and professor *
Ivan Marija Čok Ivan () is a Slavic male given name, connected with the variant of the Greek name (English: John) from Hebrew meaning 'God is gracious'. It is associated worldwide with Slavic countries. The earliest person known to bear the name was the ...
- politician and lawyer * Ivan Dolinar - politician, teacher and journalist *
Josip Ferfolja Josip Ferfolja (27 September 1880 – 11 December 1958) was a Slovene lawyer and social democratic politician, and human rights activist from the Province of Gorizia. Although he was an Italian citizen for most of his life, he considered himself ...
- politician, lawyer and human rights activist * Rudolf Golouh - politician, editor, journalist and dramatist * Ivan Nabergoj - politician and landlord * Bogumil Remec - politician and entrepreneur *
Mitja Ribičič Mitja Ribičič (19 May 1919 – 28 November 2013) was a Slovenian and Yugoslav communist politician. He was the Prime Minister of Yugoslavia—the only Slovenian to hold the office—from 1969 to 1971. Life and career He was born in a Slovene ...
- politician * Josip Vilfan - politician, lawyer and human rights activist *
Roberto Cosolini Roberto Cosolini (born 14 May 1956) is an Italian politician who served as Mayor of Trieste from 2011 to 2016. Biography Cosolini began his career in the 1980s as provincial secretary, and then regional secretary, of the National Confederation o ...
- politician


Psychotherapists

*
Alenka Rebula Tuta Alenka Rebula Tuta (born April 14, 1954) is a Slovene writer, poet, applied psychologist and a notable member of the Slovene minority in Italy. She lives and works in Sistiana in the Province of Trieste, Italy. Life She was born to father Alo ...
- writer, poet and psychologist * Pavel Fonda - psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and politician


Resistance fighters and anti-fascist activists

* Ferdo Bidovec - anti-Fascist insurrectionist *
Lojze Bratuž Lojze Bratuž, Italianization, Italianized name ''Luigi Bertossi'', (February 17, 1902 – February 16, 1937) was a Slovenes, Slovene choirmaster and composer from Gorizia who was killed by Italian Fascism, Italian Fascist squads. He is regarded as ...
- choirmaster and composer *
Zorko Jelinčič Zorko Jelinčič (5 March 1900 - 13 July 1965) was a Slovenian national activist and cultural worker. Life and work He was born into a teacher's family in Log pod Mangartom, Slovenia. He attended and finished primary school in his hometown, de ...
- national liberal activist *
Fran Marušič Fran may refer to: People and fictional characters * Fran (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Fran (footballer, born 1969), Francisco Javier González Pérez, Spanish football manager and former midfielder * Fran (fo ...
- anti-Fascist insurrectionist * Pinko Tomažič - communist activist * Ivan Regent - communist activist


Scholars

*
Milko Brezigar Milko Brezigar (6 October 1886 – 22 April 1958) was a Slovene and Yugoslav liberal economist. Biography Born to a Slovene family the village of Doberdò del Lago () in the Austrian Littoral (now part of Italy), he attended the State gymnas ...
- economist *
Lavo Čermelj Lavo Čermelj, Italianized name ''Lavo Cermeli'' (10 October 1889 – 26 January 1980), was a Slovenes, Slovene physicist, political activist, journalist, and author. In the 1930s, he was one of the foremost representatives of Slovene anti-Fasci ...
- physicist, political activist, journalist and author *
Boris Furlan Boris Furlan (10 November 1894 – 10 June 1957)Brecelj, Marijan. 1978. "Borut Furlan." ''Primorski slovenski biografski leksikon'', vol. 5. Gorizia: Goriška Mohorjeva družba, p. 394.Jevnikar, Martin. 1989. "Boris Furlan." ''Enciklopedija Sloveni ...
- jurist, legal theorist *
Boris M. Gombač Boris M. Gombač (born 15 September 1945) is a Slovenes, Slovene historian from Italy. He was born to a middle class Slovene family in Trieste, Italy. He studied history at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (then part of former Yugoslavia). B ...
- historian * Ivo Kerže - philosopher * Franc Kos - historian *
Milko Kos Milko Kos (12 December 1892 – 24 March 1972) was a Slovenian historian, considered the father of the Ljubljana school of historiography. Early life and education He was born in the town of Gorizia (then part of Austro-Hungarian Empire, now ...
- historian * Niko Kuret - ethnologist * Aleš Lokar - economist *
Pavle Merkù Pavle Merkù () (12 July 1927 – 20 October 2014) was an Italian-Slovene composer, Ethnomusicology, ethnomusicologist, Slovene specialist, and Etymology, etymologist. Life Merkù was born in Trieste on 12 July 1927. He received a bachelor's de ...
- ethnomusicologist *
Avgust Pirjevec Avgust Pirjevec (28 September 1887 – 9 December 1943) was a Slovene literary scholar, lexicographer, and librarian. Biography Pirjevec was born in a Slovene-speaking family in Gorizia, a town in the Austrian Littoral (now part of Italy ...
- literary scholar *
Jože Pirjevec Jože Pirjevec (born 1 June 1940), registered at birth Giuseppe Pierazzi because of the Italianization policy under the Fascist regime, is a Slovene– Italian historian and a prominent diplomatic historian of the west Balkans region, as well as ...
- historian *
Igor Škamperle Igor Škamperle (born 21 November 1962) is a Slovenian sociologist, cultural theory, cultural theorist, novelist, essayist, mountaineer and translator. He was born in a Slovene language, Slovene-speaking family in Trieste, Italy. He studied com ...
- sociologist and writer *
Božo Škerlj Božo Škerlj (28 September 1908 – 10 November 1961) was a Slovenes, Slovene Anthropology, anthropologist, author of eleven books and over 200 scientific articles published in journals at home and abroad. Škerlj was born in Vienna in 1908. He ...
- anthropologist *
Vladimir Truhlar Karel Vladimir Truhlar (3 September 1912 – 4 January 1977) was a Slovenian theologian, philosopher, poet, and literary critic. Life and work Early years Karel Vladimir Truhlar was born on 3 September 1912 in Gorizia, a town in the forme ...
- theologian and poet * Marta Verginella - historian * Sergij Vilfan - historian


Sports

*
Arianna Bogatec Arianna Bogatec (born 16 June 1969) is an Italian sailor. She competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics. She participated at the 2015 Barcolana regatta The Barcolana () is a historic international sailing regatta orga ...
- sailor * Matej Černic - volleyball player *
Claudia Coslovich Claudia Coslovich (born 26 April 1972 in Trieste) is a former Italian athlete who specialized in the javelin throw. Her personal best was 65.30 metres, achieved in June 2000 in Ljubljana. She is a member of the Slovene ethnic minority of Friuli ...
- athlete *
Gregor Fučka Gregor Fučka (; born 7 August 1971) is a Slovenian-Italian former professional basketball player and coach. A 215 cm (7' ") forward- center, he was a both a Mister Europa and Euroscar laureate in 2000. Professional career Fučka pla ...
- former basketball player * Barbara Lah - triple jumper *
Edoardo Reja Edoardo Reja (born 10 October 1945) is an Italian professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of Slovenian club Gorica. After a career as a midfielder spent mostly with SPAL and Palermo, he began working a ...
- football manager and former football player * Lidija Rupnik - gymnast * Giorgio Ursi - racing cyclist


Religious figures

* Frančišek Borgia Sedej - priest, bishop, archbishop and metropolitan(bishop) * Ivan Nepomuk Glavina - archbishop * Jože Prešeren - priest, publicist and cultural worker * Jakob Ukmar - priest and writer * Virgil Šček - priest and politician * Ivan Trinko - priest, poet and translator * Božo Zuanella - priest and historian * Arturo Blasutto - priest * Matevž Ravnikar - priest, bishop, poet and historian * Jernej Legat - bishop and theologian


Others

* Sergej Mašera - naval lieutenant * Edvard Rusjan - flight pioneer and airplane constructor * Jožko Šavli - author, self-declared historian and high school teacher * Franc Kalister - businessman and patron * Janez Nepomuk Kalister - businessman and patron * David Bandelj - poet, literary historian and choirmaster *
Lambert Ehrlich Lambert Ehrlich (18 September 1878 – 26 May 1942)Mlakar, Boris. 1989. “Lambert Ehrlich”. ''Enciklopedija Slovenije,'' vol. 3. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga. was a Carinthian Slovene Roman Catholic priest, political figure, and ethnologist. ...
- priest, political figure and ethnologist *
Danilo Dolci Danilo Dolci (28 June 1924 – 30 December 1997) was an Italian social activist, sociologist, popular educator and poet. He is best known for his opposition to poverty, social exclusion and the Mafia in Sicily, and is considered to be one of the ...
- social activist, sociologist, popular educator and poet * Gaetano Kanizsa - psychologist *
Guglielmo Oberdan Guglielmo Oberdan (February 1, 1858 – December 20, 1882) was an Italian irredentist. He was executed after a failed attempt to assassinate Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, becoming a martyr of the Italian unification movement. Biography He w ...
- Italian nationalist activist and irredentist


See also

* Slovene minority in Italy (1920–1947) * Italy–Slovenia relations * Italians in Slovenia


References


External links

* {{Portal bar, Italy, Slovenia Ethnic groups in Italy Slovenian diaspora *