Colonial Deportations:Ponza
Former Hospital Building (Ponza)
The building served as a hospital for Libyan deportees. Ponza primarily functioned as a quarantine site to prevent the spread of diseases among Libyan deportees on other islands. After a period of medical observation, deportees would be transferred to other deportation sites, resulting in many spending only a brief time in Ponza.
Former Dormitory Building (Ponza)
The yellow building was one of the structures used as a dormitory for Libyan deportees.
Entrance to Former Dormitory Building (Ponza)
The entrance to a former dormitory building in Ponza was named 'Cameroni dei Confinati' (Exiles' Dorm Rooms), to commemorate the anti-fascist individuals who were confined on the island between 1928 and 1943. Initially used to house Libyan deportees during the 1910s, it later served as accommodation for anti-fascist exiles.
Entrance to Former Dormitory Building (Ponza) 2024 (Picture by Carlo Marcone)
A recent picture of the building shows that the banner for the Christian Evangelical Church has been removed, while the signpost indicating 'work in progress' remains. There is a project underway to convert the rooms into a Center for Historical Studies/Historical Archive documenting Ponza's history as a site of confinement in the 20th century, which will include a focus on colonial deportations. The main partners in the project are the local Center for Studies and Documentation of the Ponza Islands, the City Council, and the ANPPIA. (The ANPPIA is the National Association of Antifascist Italian [victims of] Political Persecution).
Internal view of a camerone where Libyan deportees were housed on the island of Ponza
Monument commemorating Libyan deportees deceased on the island of Ponza between 1912 and 1918
Monument commemorating Libyan deportees who died on the island of Ponza between 1912 and 1918. The monument was erected in October 2002 in the island's cemetery, situated in a somewhat secluded area within the cemetery grounds. It stands apart from Catholic graves but is not far from the monument commemorating the 'confinati' in Ponza. The monument is oriented towards Mecca.
Back view of the monument commemorating 36 Libyan deportees deceased on the island of Ponza between 1912 and 1918.
Details of Arabic engravings on the monument commemorating 36 Libyan deportees deceased on the island of Ponza between 1912 and 1918.
The centenary of the first deportation was commemorated through a public event on the island of Ponza. At the end of the event, the names of the 36 Libyan deportees deceased on the island were read aloud in the Arabic language.
Tribute to Libyan Deportees (Ponza), May 2023.
In May 2023, the ANPPIA organised a group trip to Ponza, where participants learnt about the history of Fascist confinement. During the trip, participants visited the local cemetery to lay flowers on the monument commemorating anti-fascist militants. As the picture shows, they also laid flowers on the monument commemorating Libyan deportees deceased in Ponza.