The Morandi Bridge collapsed seven years ago, killing 43 people.

Genoa is preparing for the annual ceremony, which this year will take place at the August 14, 2018 Memorial, built on the eastern bank of the Polcevera River, beneath the spans of the new San Giorgio Bridge. Seven years have passed since the disaster that claimed the lives of 43 people, with two trials underway, the central one regarding responsibility. The road is still long, but a possible outcome to the first-instance trial is in sight.

"These are always difficult days," emphasizes Egle Possetti, spokesperson for the Committee of the Relatives of the Morandi Victims, "a time suspended in memory. But looking to the future, to what comes after, for me, it means continuing to fight to unravel this story. And continuing to care for the Memorial."

This year, for the first time since 2018, the official ceremony with the authorities will be held here, right in front of the stele bearing the names of those who lost their lives in the collapse. This area is a small piece of a much larger project, slowly taking shape from all its sections until the overall design is achieved: the Polcevera Park and the Red Circle, the major restyling dedicated to that part of the city that suffered most from the Morandi disaster.

This is the program:

On Thursday, August 14, at 9:00 a.m. , Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Parish Church of San Bartolomeo della Certosa (Via San Bartolomeo della Certosa 15), officiated by the Archbishop of Genoa, Monsignor Marco Tasca. The Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis, will be present.

The victims' relatives and the authorities are expected to arrive at the 14.08.2018 Memorial area at approximately 10:30 am .

At 10:45 a.m. , the ceremony in memory of the victims of the Morandi Bridge collapse will begin. The ceremony will be attended by the Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis, the Prefect of Genoa, Cinzia Torraco, the President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci, and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, with a delegation from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Inside the Memorial, wreaths will be placed in front of the totem listing the names of the 43 victims, and a minute of silence will be observed.

Before the speeches by the dignitaries, a first artistic performance will be performed on stage by Maestro Attilio Sottini, artistic director of VoxArtis and Psallire Deo, on flute, with mezzo-soprano Giada Venturini and Alessandro Valtulini on keyboards, in collaboration with the Carlo Felice Theater Singing Academy. Immediately afterward, Gianni Andreoli of the "Noi per Voi Valle Stura Masone" Association will take the stage with a delegation of children.

This will be followed by speeches by Imam Salah Hussein , the Archbishop of Genoa, Monsignor Marco Tasca , the Mayor of Genoa Silvia Salis , the President of the Liguria Region Marco Bucci , the Deputy Minister Edoardo Rixi and the representative of the victims' relatives Egle Possetti .

At 11:36 a.m. , a minute of silence will be observed, and at the same time, the sirens of ships in port and the bells of the entire Diocese will be rung.

The ceremony concluded with a second musical performance dedicated to the families of the victims.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on the official Facebook page of the Genoa Municipality.