Reflections by AEF Students After Visiting Il Memoriale delle Deportazioni in Florence
On October 10th, 2025, students from Professor Floarea Vîrban’s History class visited Il Memoriale delle Deportazioni, also known as Il Memoriale Italiano di Auschwitz, an immersive and emotional space dedicated to memory, responsibility, and human dignity.
For many students, entering the Memoriale’s spiral-shaped installation was an unforgettable experience. Some described it as “sad but powerful,” “very powerful and unsettling,” and “truly eye-opening.” Others reflected on how emotionally intense the visit felt, while also recognizing its importance as part of their academic and personal growth abroad.
What made the experience especially meaningful was the opportunity to approach the Holocaust and Fascism from an Italian perspective. Several students noted that before coming to Florence, their understanding of World War II had mainly been shaped through American narratives. The museum challenged this limited viewpoint and encouraged them to confront more complex truths about Italian Fascism, collaboration with Nazi Germany, and the persecution of Jewish communities within Italy itself.
Students were particularly struck by the museum’s honesty in addressing Italy’s role in Fascism. They reflected on how history can easily become simplified when viewed only through national perspectives. The exhibition encouraged them to think critically about propaganda, political responsibility, and the ways ordinary societies can gradually normalize discrimination and violence.
For some students, the visit also connected deeply with personal identity and family history. Jewish students reflected on memories and stories passed down through generations, while others connected the experience to their own Italian heritage or family histories linked to World War II. These personal reflections transformed historical events into something profoundly human and immediate.
The Memoriale also helped students understand history not simply as a collection of dates and events, but as lived human experience. As many observed, studying history means understanding the consequences of silence, indifference, and fear — but also recognizing the courage of those who resisted oppression and defended human dignity.
One of the most impactful moments came at the end of the visit, where students stood before a grid of mirrors alongside images of human rights activists. Seeing their own reflections among those who fought for justice left a lasting impression. Students realized that remembrance cannot remain passive; memory must inspire responsibility and action in the present.
This reflection naturally led students to connect the experience with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Many students emphasized how the museum demonstrates the dangers that arise when institutions fail to protect truth, justice, and human rights. They reflected on how peace remains fragile when societies tolerate discrimination, authoritarianism, or political silence.
Others connected the visit to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, recognizing how Fascist racial laws institutionalized exclusion and discrimination. Some reflected on how prejudice becomes normalized gradually through stereotypes and fear, while others connected the exhibition to contemporary issues involving racism, discrimination, and marginalization.
Students also discussed SDG 5: Gender Equality after encountering Fascist propaganda that reinforced rigid gender roles, and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, reflecting on the inhuman medical abuses committed during the Holocaust.
Ultimately, the visit to the Memoriale became much more than an academic field trip. It became an opportunity for students to reflect on memory, responsibility, and the role each individual plays in shaping society. As one student powerfully observed: “This museum doesn’t just contain a monument to the victims — it’s a message to the living.”
At AEF, experiences like these remind students that education is not only about gaining knowledge, but also about becoming more thoughtful, aware, and responsible global citizens.
