Poffabro and its many nativity scenes!

Very cute the small town of Poffabro (it only dates back to 1339 and in 1976 was seriously damaged during a massive earthquake that had hit the area causing many deaths), nestled in the mountains near the town of Maniago (famous for its production of knives) and some 50 kms from Udine. The entire town is awash with nativity scenes, like everywhere and in everything: squares, alley ways, home window sills, old wooden shoes, you name it, they’re all there!

The town even made it on the national news, so our visit on Sunday was somewhat “crowded”, but nevertheless worth it as the visit was also washed down with some fine hot chocolate and vin brule’ (all pics by M. Rimati)!

2011 New Year's Eve in Udine!

The 2011 New Year's Eve fireworks display (20 minutes) from Udine's quaint castle (all pics by M. Rimati)!

The Gonars concentration camp!

The Gonars concentration camp is located just 21 kms from Udine. On February 23, 1942 the Italian fascist regime established a concentration camp there. Most of the prisoners were from present day Slovenia and Croatia. The first transport of 5,343 internees (1,643 of whom were children) arrived two days later.

The camp was disbanded on September 8, 1943, immediately after the Italian armistice. Every effort was made to erase any evidence of this black spot of Italian history. The camp's buildings were destroyed, the materials were used to build a nearby kindergarten and the site was turned into a meadow.

The remains of 453 Slovenian and Croatian victims were transferred into its two underground crypts. It is believed that at least 50 additional people died in the camp due to starvation and torture, including 70 children who were less than 1 year old! Apart from the sacrarium no other evidence of the camp remains and even many locals are unaware of it (all pics by M. Rimati).