The Allies Museum National Conference Awarded Medal of the President of the Italian Republic

The Medal of the President of the Italian Republic is bestowed upon initiatives of particular cultural, scientific, and moral significance. Its conferral upon this conference series represents a meaningful national acknowledgment of the importance of rigorous historical study in strengthening democratic values and reinforcing transatlantic understanding rooted in the shared Allied struggle for liberation.

Organized in collaboration between The Allies Museum and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the conference series convenes leading Italian historians across four cities, Naples, Rome, Florence, and Milan, beginning in February and ending at the Library of the Italian Chamber of Deputies in Rome on May 28, 2026. The program is dedicated to examining the Allied role in the Italian Campaign, from the landings in Sicily to the liberation of northern Italy, and to analyzing how that multinational presence and sacrifice has been remembered, interpreted, and integrated into Italy’s national consciousness.

As Italy approaches the 82nd anniversary of the Liberation of Rome, this national recognition affirms the importance of sustained scholarly attention to the Allied contribution to Italy’s freedom and to the preservation of that memory for future generations. The Italian Campaign, fought across beaches, cities, and mountains from 1943 to 1945, was not only a decisive military undertaking but also a defining moment in the rebirth of democratic Italy and in the strengthening of transatlantic bonds.

The conference brings together many of Italy’s foremost scholars of the period, whose research has shaped the modern historiography of the Italian Campaign and deepened understanding of the Allied presence on Italian soil. Their participation reflects decades of academic dedication to preserving historical truth, advancing international dialogue, and ensuring that the sacrifices of Allied servicemen and Italian civilians alike remain central to the historical record.

The series has received countrywide support from leading entities and associations, including Associazione Nazionale Reduci dalla Prigionia, dall’Internamento, dalla Guerra di Liberazione e loro familiari, Comune di Firenze Biblioteca delle Oblate, Istituto Nazionale Ferruccio Parri, Società Italiana di Storia Internazionale, Liberation Route Europe Italia, Società Italiana di Storia Militare, and Società Italiana per lo Studio della Storia Contemporanea.

According to The Allies Museum Founding Director, Guido Molinari:

“We are deeply honored to receive the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic for this national conference series. This recognition underscores the enduring importance of examining the Allied role in the liberation of Italy and ensuring that the memory of that shared sacrifice remains a living part of our democratic heritage. We accept this distinction with gratitude and with renewed commitment to building a lasting place of memory, recognition, and learning for generations to come.”

According to Professor Mireno Berrettini of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, a member of the Museum’s National Committee for Italy and among the principal organizers of the conference series:

“The awarding of the Medal of the President of the Republic represents an important recognition of the cultural and civic value of our project. Studying the international dimension of the Italian Campaign from a historical perspective means engaging with the plural roots of our Italian democracy, with the crucial role played by the Allies, and reflecting on the foundations of the foreign policy pillars upon which the Italian Republic was built, as well as on the evolving relationship with our traditional allies today. This recognition encourages us to continue fostering rigorous scholarship and public dialogue on a crucial chapter of our shared history."

The Allies Museum extends its sincere gratitude to all participating scholars and partner institutions whose dedication made this historic national convening possible. This recognition marks not a culmination, but the catalyst for renewed scholarship and remembrance, and the enduring mission to honor the Allied and Italian sacrifices that shaped the modern Republic.

For information regarding the conference series, contact events@alliesmuseum.com.