Exhibition: “Freedom, once attained, must be nurtured and preserved”
On display at the G. Pontiggia Municipal Library in Erba through June 6
There is a freedom that we take for granted today, but which was won through difficult choices, courage, and responsibility. This is the very inspiration behind the exhibition “Freedom, once won, must be nurtured and preserved,” on display at the Erba Library and open to the public through June 6.
An intense and engaging journey through documents, photographs, testimonies, and artifacts tells the story of the Resistance in the Erba area. This is not a distant history, but one deeply rooted in the community: the story of men and women who, between 1943 and 1945, chose to oppose Nazi-Fascism.
The exhibition focuses on them: partisans, couriers, priests, and ordinary citizens who supported the underground network. These stories are often less well-known, but they are essential to understanding how freedom was a collective achievement in Erba as well. What emerges is a collective narrative of solidarity, personal choices, and civic duty—values that remain relevant today.
Special thanks go to the residents who contributed documents and materials preserved in their families, making it possible to authentically reconstruct the local historical memory.
An invitation to collective memory
The cover photo of this article—the May 1, 1945 parade—depicts jubilant faces, people marching to celebrate Liberation Day. It is precisely this image that inspires an invitation to the citizens of Erba:
Do you recognize anyone?
A relative, a familiar face, a story passed down through the generations? Participating also means helping to keep the memory alive.
A community project
The exhibition was curated by Erica Rivolta and Susy Zappa, in collaboration with Clelia Orsenigo, director of the Erba Civic Museum, and the municipal administration, represented byMatteo Redaelli, Councilor for Culture.
Erica and Susy carry on an important family legacy: they are the daughters of Enrico and Luciano, two of the four young men who, along with Giuseppe Majnoni and Beppe Bosis, founded the Puecher Battalion in 1944, driven by ideals of justice and freedom.
Intertwined with these figures are the stories of women, young people, priests, and entire communities:
the women, often acting as couriers, who were involved in transporting messages and weapons;
the young people, keepers of secrets and hopes, and sometimes organizers of escapes to the Swiss border crossings;
the priests and citizens, who played a key role in providing quiet assistance and acts of courage that saved lives.
These stories also take shape through clues scattered throughout the exhibition and the podcast: “biscòt, ” “Father Aristide, ” “Todeselli.”
These names and words point directly to the stories of women, young people, priests, and communities, inviting visitors to delve deeper and discover tales that are still little known but deeply meaningful.
An invitation to schools (and others)
The exhibition offers a valuable opportunity, especially for schools: learning about local history means recognizing the names, surnames, and families that are still part of the community today.
While preparing the exhibition and conducting their research, the curators met many people who didn’t know that their ancestors had been part of the Resistance.
All the more reason to visit the exhibition: you might discover a story that’s closely connected to you.
Hours of Operation
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM / 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Wednesdays and Fridays: 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
