What if this cave could speak? This is the Grotta Norma Cossetto. It stands as a poignant reminder of a dark chapter in history. This cave is named in memory of Norma Cossetto. She was a young Istrian student. Her life tragically ended during the tumultuous period of World War II.
Norma Cossetto was born on May 17 1920. She resided in Santa Domenica. This hamlet is in Visinada now Vižinada Croatia. Her father Giuseppe held a prominent position. He was a local leader of the Fascist National Party. He also served as the mayor of Visinada.
Norma was a dedicated student. She attended the Regio Liceo Vittorio Emanuele III in Gorizia. After graduation she enrolled at the University of Padova. She studied Italian Literature. Norma also joined the Fascist University Group in Pola. She worked as a substitute teacher in Pisino and Parenzo since 1941. Norma was writing her degree thesis during the summer of 1943. It was titled “Istria rossa” referencing Istria’s rich reddish bauxite ores. She toured villages collecting information for her dissertation.
After the September 8 Armistice, Norma’s family faced threats. On September 25 their home was ransacked. Yugoslavian and Italian resistance fighters did this. Norma was summoned to resistance headquarters. This was in the former Carabinieri barracks in Visignano. She declined to join the resistance movement.
On September 27 she was detained again. She was brought to the former Guardia di Finanza barracks in Parenzo. Her sister Licia tried to free her but failed. The resistance moved the prisoners to a school in Antignana. The Germans occupied Visinada. In the school Norma was separated. She was tied to a table. She was repeatedly tortured and raped. Between October 4 and 5 the prisoners were bound. They were forced to walk to Villa Surani. Then they were thrown into a nearby foiba. The three female prisoners were raped again. This happened before they were thrown into the foiba.
After the Second World War Cossetto’s death became emblematic. It represented the Foibe massacres. These massacres involved ethnic cleansing of Italians by Yugoslavs in Istria. The University of Padova posthumously awarded her a degree in 1949. In 2005 the Italian President Ciampi awarded her the “Medaglia d’oro al merito civile”. Trieste and Narni dedicated streets to her memory in July 2011. Rome followed suit in 2015.
This cave named Grotta Norma Cossetto stands as a tribute to her memory. The cave is a cavity of naturalistic value. It features beautiful calcite formations. These formations include cave flowers and angel hair. It also has “slices of ham” and “organ pipes”. Periodically the plaque at the cave entrance is removed by unknown individuals. This site serves to protect a cave of great landscape value. It also preserves the historical memory. It symbolizes the tragedy of the exodus and the foibe. This is symbolized by Norma Cossetto. The hope is to raise awareness among local authorities. This will encourage them to preserve the plaque. It will also enhance the beautiful cave. This Luogo del Cuore is dedicated to Norma and her great-niece Giulia. They are a reminder of the past. They are a symbol of resilience.