The Stumbling Stones

Today, April 28, is Holocaust Memorial Day. As I have said in many of these posts, in Rome, the past is always present. Sometimes you have only to look down to see it.

Scattered throughout the Eternal City are the “Stumbling Stones.” Rome is not the only city to have them — the Stolpersteine project, begun by German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992, has placed these tiny memorials in many European countries. In Italy, the project commenced in 2010.

The project places little markers at the last place a person was before he or she fell victim to Nazi terror. In Rome, as in most of the world, these markers are mostly for Jewish people who were taken away by the Nazis, but also for other individuals who were persecuted, such as Roma, homosexuals, and those resisting the Nazis. Most of the Roman Stumbling Stones are in the old Jewish Quarter, or Ghetto. 

Even if you don’t know any Italian, it is pretty easy to understand. The one at the top of this post reads:

Here lived

Pacifico Moscato

Born 1908

Arrested May 5, 1955

Deported to

Auschwitz

Assassinated October 20, 1944

I don’t have the words that do these stones justice. So I recognize that they tangibly represent real people from our very recent history.  Just look down, and never forget.

Published by spanishstepsapartment

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In the heart of Rome's Historic Center, between the beautiful Spanish Steps and the famous Trevi Fountain, this luxury two bedroom, two bathroom apartment is surrounded by fine dining and fabulous shopping. It is within walking distance of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and many other historic sites and museums, and near the subway, taxi stands, bus stops, and bike rental. Located in a traditional Roman palazzo, the apartment was fully renovated in late 2010 and is now available for vacation and short-term rental.