Bacoli celebrates memory and social redemption by naming the Belvedere di Via Castello after Maurizio Valenzi, former mayor of Naples. The event, held in the evocative setting of the Castello Aragonese di Baia, was organized on the occasion of the 115th anniversary of the birth of Valenzi, the politician who, during his mandate, put an end to the horror of the military orphanage that stood in that very place.
The orphanage, active since the 14s, hosted the children of the fallen of the Great War and children not recognized by their parents. A refuge that soon revealed itself as a prison of mistreatment and inhuman conditions. The children themselves denounced these cruelties in a desperate letter sent to Mayor Valenzi on November 1976, XNUMX.
The words of the young inmates describe brutal punishments, insufficient food, poor hygiene and an environment infested with rats. Among the many abuses, the figure of a tutor stands out, described as violent and authoritarian, who inflicted physical punishments, forced the boys to kneel for hours and even deprived them of the right to play.
The intervention of Maurizio Valenzi
Valenzi, who had been mayor of Naples for just a year at the time, heard the children's cry of pain and instructed councilor Emma Maida to act immediately. The next day, an impromptu inspection at the Baia Castle confirmed the complaints. The structure was closed and the children were freed, putting an end to decades of suffering. From that moment on, a radical transformation of the Castle began, which from a place of pain became the Archaeological Museum of the Phlegraean Fields, a cultural and tourist reference point.
During the ceremony, the mayor of Bacoli, Josi Della Ragione, recalled the importance of Valenzi's action: "Bacoli honors the mayor of Naples who saved children from the cruelty of the military orphanage.
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Also present at the event were the former president of the Campania Region, Antonio Bassolino, and Lucia Valenzi, daughter of the former mayor. The latter expressed emotion for the tribute paid to her father: "It's touching to see how, after so many years, my father's gesture is remembered with such sensitivity and humanity."
The social and cultural value of memory
After the naming, the conference “Terra tra mito e fuoco” explored the cultural heritage of Campi Flegrei. Teachers and experts discussed the social value of historical assets and the link between past and present, underlining how memory can be transformed into an opportunity for redemption and rebirth.
The ceremony brought to light the contents of the letter written by the children of the orphanage in 1976. Here is an excerpt of their words: "Dear Mayor, we children at the Baia Castle Military Orphanage are complaining about our teacher. He uses brutal methods, beats us, and leaves marks on our backs. We live among rats, eat broth every day, and haven't showered in a month."
This testimony, full of pain, is not only a historical document, but a warning so that similar episodes never happen again. Thanks to Valenzi's intervention and the redevelopment of the Baia Castle, today bacoli can boast one of the most important archaeological complexes in Italy, with over 50 rooms of historical and artistic wonders. An example of how even the darkest pages of history can give rise to places of light and hope.
Comments (5)
The archaeological museum is a great step forward, but we must not forget what happened to children in the past.
Bacoli is right to honor the past, but we must also think about the future and how to improve things now.
Maurizio Valenzi did the right thing, and it's good that people still remember him. Memory is fundamental.
The story of the orphanage is really sad and should never be forgotten, I hope such things never happen again.
It's important to remember these things, but I don't understand why it took so long.