ROSARIO

The largest city in the Argentinean province of Santa Fe, Rosario, and its 1.2 million citizens, has settled on the banks of the Parana River. It is estimated that there are around 30,000 Croatians and their descendants living in the area.

Here, again, we can find Ivan Vučetić coming up; a criminology course in Rosario was founded under the name Instituto de Capacitacion en Criminalistica Juan Vucetich, and its first generation of students graduated in 2009.

Announcement for the Ivan Vučetić criminology course

In a prominent spot in Rosario lies the monument known as Zvonimir’s Ship or La Nave de Zvonimir, specifically, in the park in front of the grand Flag Memorial. The Ship is a small tugboat from 1902, whose Italian owners donated it in order to have a monument for the Croatian society erected, partially to Argentina as well, as the country that accepted so many Croatians. The monument was built according to the plans of architect Dražen Juraga, honorary consul of the Republic of Croatian in Rosario. Thanks to him, and Alfred and Domingo Kovačević, those plans were realized. The official unveiling took place on May 3rd, 1997. On a plate next to the ship, below the lyrics of Vladimir Nazor, are the signatures of the Croatian ambassador to Argentina at the time, Neda Rosandić Šarić, and prefect Hermes Binner.

ZVONIMIR’S SHIP

CROATIA

IT IS STILL HERE, ON THE HARD ROCK

STILL LYING ON THE ROCKS

THE EIGHTHUNDREDTH SUMMER PASSES

AS SHE’S WHIPPED FROM ALL SIDES

HARSHLY THEY STRIKE HER

THE WIND, WAKE AND STORMS

SHE BREAKS, DOUBLES OVER

SHE IS ON THE SANDS, BUT IS STILL HERE.

VLADIMIR NAZOR, 1912

Goran Borčić, from the Split City Museum, during a visit to Rosario