Tempio nazionale dell'internato ignoto, Historical museum and church building in Terranegra, Padua, Italy.
The Tempio nazionale dell'internato ignoto is a Catholic church and memorial in the Terranegra district of Padua, also serving as the parish seat of San Gaetano da Thiene. Its atrium holds a sarcophagus with the remains of an unknown internee. The adjoining Museo dell'internamento, opened in 1955 and renovated in 1999, displays documents, photographs and objects on deportation.
Father Giovanni Fortin, who had sheltered British soldiers, was interned at Dachau in early 1944. After surviving, he pressed for the Terranegra building he had conceived in 1953 to become a memorial ossuary with an attached deportation museum. The parish seat was moved there from the old Terranegra church in 1955, and the museum opened that same year, renovated in 1999.
The temple holds photographs, letters, and personal belongings that show what daily life was like for deported Italians. These objects tell the story of hundreds of thousands of people who lost their homes during World War II.
The site is located near Padua's center and offers wheelchair access for all visitors. It is helpful to check opening times before your visit, as the opening days are limited.
The memorial received the Medal of Military Valor from the Italian Republic, underscoring its importance as a national remembrance site. This honor makes it one of the few religious places officially recognized by the state in this way.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,363 contributors worldwide.
