The 22nd of March is Spoleto “Day of Remembrance”, in memory of the terrible explosion that cost the lives of 23 miners working at Morgnano mines.

At 5:40 a.m. on March 22, 1955, a few minutes before the end of the night shift, a bag of firedamp broke a thick diaphragm of rock and coal, venting violently into a tunnel under construction. The gas spread into the nearby tunnels and, mixed with the air, turned into a deadly explosive mixture, ready to explode at the slightest graft, at the smallest spark. Twenty-three miners were killed as they were about to return to the sun and life.

Friday, March 22, 2019 the association Amici delle Miniere (Friends of the mines), with the collaboration of the City of Spoleto, commemorates the tragic event with a series of events: from 9:30 to 19, the original book by Giorgio Agricola ‘De re metallica’ 1561 and some original tables of the sixteenth century concerning the mining art will be on display at the Museum of Mines (free admission).

At 11 a.m. celebration of the holy mass at the parish church of Morgnano. At 11.45 am welcome addresses by local authorities and laying of a laurel wreath at the Miners’ Memorial.

In the afternoon, at 4 p.m., conference given by Dr. Romano Guerra, expert in mines and history of fossils. At 17.00, presentation of the 3D project of the mines. At 18.00, concert for two violins offered by L’Orfeo di Spoleto association.  At 19.30 aperitif-dinner at the mines’ bar, offered by Amici delle Miniere association.