1943 - Middle school. Rome was bombarded for the first time that year, on July the 19th. It was about midday and I found myself together with a pair of friends in the stadium Foro Mussolini, where we were picking up some fliers which were thrown down by the allied airplanes the night before. We saw the shine of a hundred airplanes which were flying toward us. The sound we heard was like that of a hurricane, which was coming to sweep us away. We had to run for our lives and we hide into an old gallery which was used as an air-raid shelter. What I remember the most of that day - besides the fear – was the desperate cry of a boy. He felt on his knees in front of his mother, asking her to forgive him for all the times he disobeyed her and made her upset.

Rome – The cemetery Verano and the basilica San Lorenzo after the bombardment.