Enna becomes capital of the Resistance with the Cervi brothers' anti-fascist pasta

Enna, the highest provincial capital in Italy, is embracing its history of the Resistance through a series of events organized by its first communist mayor, Mirello Crisafulli. The commemorations, concluding on July 25th, feature square dedications to partisans and the presentation of a plaque honoring the carabiniere who arrested Benito Mussolini.

The day's events include a "spaghettata della Resistenza" at 11:30 PM in Piazza VI Dicembre. This meal is a tribute to the Cervi brothers, who in 1943 distributed pasta to celebrate Mussolini's downfall, a gesture that has become a national symbol of anti-fascist remembrance. Enna is adopting this tradition in collaboration with the local Anpi (National Association of Italian Partisans).

Mayor Wladimiro Crisafulli, known as the 'Red Baron,' has been a lifelong member of the left and was elected mayor without the Democratic Party's symbol, famously stating, "In Enna, the Democratic Party is me." The date also marks the anniversary of Mussolini's arrest in 1943, a pivotal moment in the fall of fascism. Captain Paolo Vigneri of the Carabinieri, a native of Calascibetta near Enna, was the one who physically arrested the dictator before joining the partisan group Caruso.

The city is also honoring local figures. Pompeo Colajanni, known as Commander Barbato, a key Resistance figure with family ties to Enna, is being recognized with the renaming of the former Piazza Antonello da Messina. Additionally, a section of Via Leonardo da Vinci will be named after Alessandro Scelfo, an engineer and knight recognized as one of Enna's most distinguished citizens.

"We want to remember the history of our partisans, of those who served in institutions, and of those who built and worked for their city," Mayor Crisafulli explained. "In this way, we recover a more complete idea of community, valuing memory and shared moments, like that of the 'anti-fascist pasta,' in memory of the Cervi brothers and freedom."

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Vogliamo ricordare - ha spiegato il sindaco Crisafulli - la storia dei nostri partigiani, di chi ha servito nelle istituzioni e di chi ha costruito e lavorato per la propria città. Così recuperiamo una più compiuta idea di comunità, dando valore alla memoria e ai momenti condivisi, come quello della 'pastasciutta antifascista, in memoria dei fratelli Cervi e della libertà.