50th Anniversary of the Friuli Earthquake (1976 – 2026)

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Friuli earthquake, the Arena Alpe Adria in Lignano Sabbiadoro will host a major event dedicated to memory, hospitality, and the rebirth of our communities.

This deep bond was forged during the tragic months of 1976, when Lignano welcomed over 20,000 displaced people onto its shores from the areas hit by the earthquake – including many citizens of Gemona del Friuli – turning its spirit of hospitality into an extraordinary act of solidarity.

PROGRAMME

Saturday, September 12th, 2026 (from 7:45 PM)

8:00 PM | Inauguration of the Permanent Art Sculpture
Presentation of the permanent sculpture "Two Shores, One Memory" by artist Alessandra Aita, created using driftwood collected along the Tagliamento River – the natural element that symbolically connects Gemona and Lignano Sabbiadoro.
Photographic Exhibition & Testimonies
Set up in the parterre of the Arena, the photographic exhibition "From Silence to Light" by FotoCineClub Lignano offers a visual journey through images and memories of the town's role as a haven of welcome. The exhibition creates a dialogue between those who lived through that history and those who preserve its legacy today: the Alpini, the Civil Protection, the Bersaglieri, and the youth of L-HUB Park.
9:00 PM | Concert Event
A show of music and personal stories titled "From Silence to Light", created and curated by SandofGospel together with The Powerful Gospel Chorale: an uplifting journey of songs, images, and words to pass this memory on to future generations.