On Saturday, 27 September 2025, the renowned Italian historian Alessandro Barbero captivated the audience in Kobarid (Caporetto) with an engaging and passionate lecture on the Battle of Caporetto of 1917, one of the most dramatic events of the First World War. 

The event drew an exceptionally large audience, with around a thousand people attending—some under the main marquee where the lecture took place, and others gathered in the town square, where a large screen had been set up to broadcast the event live. 

Barbero provided a thorough and insightful analysis of this delicate and pivotal moment in the Great War, revealing lesser-known details and intriguing anecdotes drawn from his careful examination of manuscripts, letters, and notes written by soldiers and officers from both sides of the conflict. His talk combined historical rigor and storytelling skill, offering the public a deep and human perspective on the defeat at Caporetto—not only as a military event but also as a reflection of the Italian society of the time. 

The event, simultaneously translated into Italian and Slovene, was introduced by renowned journalist and stage actor Janko Petrovec, former RTV Slovenia correspondent from Rome. With his personal and moving reflections, Petrovec helped build a cultural bridge between Italy and Slovenia, in the spirit of shared memory. 

At the end of the lecture, Professor Barbero took the time to meet his audience, signing copies of his books and engaging with many enthusiastic admirers delighted to meet him in person. 

The event was organized as part of the project “Beyond Walk of Peace: from Crossborder Historical Research and Cultural Heritage to European Trail and Stories” (BeWoP), 
co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia 2021–2027 Programme, in collaboration with: Fundacija Poti Miru, EGTC GO/EZTS GO, ZRC SAZU, PromoTurismo FVG, the Municipality of Miren-Kostanjevica, and the èStoria Association. 

A full recording of the event is available on the èStoria YouTube channel: 
Alessandro Barbero | Caporetto 1917. Lettura di una battaglia / Kobarid 1917. Pripoved o bitki