Stivor – an Italian Village in the Republic of Srpska

Abstract

The paper presents the origin, migration, culture and the life of the residents of the village of Stivor, an Italian village in the Republic of Srpska, which has been, for more than a century now, populated mostly by Italians. During the research and writing of the paper, professional historiographical and geopolitical literature was used (books, collections, articles), as well as both video records of and written testimonies of the residents of Stivor, the Internet, alongside with precious conversations and correspondence between the author and the representatives of the Italian community in the Republic of Srpska. The paper proves that cherishing tradition, religion and identity, combined with benevolent and laborius striving, overcomes all the political, economic and other difficulties, thus creating comfortable living atmosphere in which one’s own culture is cherished and that of the others is respected.