The Seven Martyrs

On the 3rd of August, 1944, in front of the eyes of men, women and children of Castello, 7 young men, aged between 20 and 46, were executed by a German firing squad. Their punishment was in reprisal for the death of a German sentry. It was later found that he had fallen into the water and drowned, with no evidence of any foul play.

This stretch of the Riva was renamed after this atrocity, you’ll know it now as Riva dei Sette Martiri (the Riva of the Seven Martyrs). On the wall of the building right at the corner of the Riva and Via Garibaldi, you’ll find a memorial to these 7 men.

Here is the building in question, with the Riva on the right, and the Via on the left. (By the way, this is the only Via in Venice, and Riva means shore.)

As I approached the Via, I noticed that the edicola (newsstand) at the corner looked somehow different.

Someone had created an homage to the seven martyrs, using the sides of the edicola as the support, and various media for the artwork. I don’t know whether this was created as part of the recent art biennale, or if it is a permanent presentation.

This is the name of the artist:

(Edited: My grammar has been corrected (thanks, C.), and this is, in fact, an homage to James Lee Byars, an artist now deceased.)

And, here are the tributes to each of the executed men.

Aliprando Armellini 24 years

Alfredo Viviani 36 years

Girolamo Guasto 25 years

Bruno de Gaspari 20 years

Gino Conti 46 years

Brothers Alfredo and Luciano Gelmi 20 and 19 years

I hope the nizioleti (street sign) will soon get some needed attention.