Experiência Colônia Cecília in Palmeira revives 1890 history this week

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The city of Palmyra is living a special week. From today until Saturday (14), the Colonia Cecilia Experience takes place, a free event at the Francisco Rutcoski Exhibition Park, with cultural programming, theater and historical debate. In an interview with BnT News on Wednesday (11), the Secretary of Culture of the municipality, Igor Moreira, spoke about the event.

Throughout the week, municipal schools are taking students to visit and get to know Colonia Cecilia, one of the most important experiences of Italian immigration in Paraná. Founded in 1890, in Palmeira, by a group of Italians led by Giovanni Rossi - veterinarian and agronomist - the colony was the first anarchist experience in Latin America.

The proposal was to prove in practice that it was possible to live in a community without bosses, without lords and without authority, based on solidarity and freedom. The experiment lasted four years, between 1890 and 1894, and it even housed 250 people. Today, it is the object of sociological and anthropological studies throughout the world.

According to Secretary Igor Moreira, the proposal is to bring this story closer to the new generations. "Throughout the week the schools are bringing students to visit and get to know the Cecilia Colony," he said.

Immersive Experience

For the event, the town hall recreated the original village. Seven houses were built, including the main house with kitchen and wood stove, plus chiquero, chicken coop, water wheel, mill, vegetable garden, well and private - all as described in the books of Giovanni Rossi himself.

“People who come will have an immersion, they will enter the colony as if it were in 1890. In each little house there is an exhibition telling a part of the story," Igor explained.

The project is already contemplating children from municipal, state and private schools throughout the month. From this evening, the visit is open to the general public.

Legacy to Palmeira

The history of Cologne has left deep marks on the city. Many families who participated in the experience remained in Palmeira, such as Agottani, Artusi and Duse.

One of the greatest legacies is the Cini family. The patriarch Egídio Cini, who came to the Colony, created in Palmeira the gingerbread Cini, today intangible heritage of the municipality and famous in Brazil with the soda.

The story has already inspired books, documentaries, a TV Bandeirantes series in 1989 and a miniseries of Rede Globo in 2011.

Now, according to the secretary, the colony is also being transformed into a tourist product. "In addition to culture, history, science, it is also now a point of tourist attraction," he said. On the eve of the event, 80 culture managers from the region have already visited the site.

Check out the full schedule:

WEDNESDAY (11) - Opening

19h - Italian musical presentation

19h30 - Official opening

20h - Presentation of the Municipal Orchestra together with the Municipal Choir with Italian repertoire

THURSDAY (12)

19h - Italian musical presentation

7:30 p.m. - Theatre with 40 actors telling the story of Colonia Cecilia

Next - Free tasting of polenta with chicken, typical food of the season

THURSDAY (13)

19h - Musical presentation

19:30 - Theatre telling the story of the Cologne

Next - Presentation of the Folk Group Piccola Italia, by Santa Felicidade

SATURDAY (14)

All day - Symposium of Colônia Cecília, with scholars and speakers from all over Brazil to discuss the topic.

The event is totally free, without ticket or parking charge. The Francisco Rutcoski Exhibition Park, known as Rodeios Park, has capacity for up to 2,000 people and ample parking.

"Bring the whole family, it's open to all the public, free, no age limit. The children are loving to know the colony, to see the piglets, the chickens," the secretary invited.

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