The National Alpine Gathering is an annual event that brings together former Alpine troops, i.e. members of the Italian mountain troops. This year the gathering will be held this weekend in Vicenza, 10,11,12 May 2024. In addition to the celebratory and festive dimension, the National Gathering of the Alpini, the oldest active infantry corps in the world, wants to remember the fallen and of those wounded in wars. It is an opportunity to keep the tradition and spirit of the Alpine troops alive.
The Villaggio dell’Adunata and the Citadel of the Alpini
Campo Marzo is the beating heart of the Gathering, not only with the majestic parade along Viale Roma, but also with the lively “Alpine festival” that it will host.
The Gathering Village – It will extend between Campo Marzo and Piazza Castello, featuring large restaurants, the Partner Village and the local Expo. Further refreshment points will be located in Piazzale De Gasperi, Piazza San Lorenzo, Contra’ Garibaldi, Contra’ Catena and Piazza Matteotti. The Gathering Village will be open to the public from Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th May from 9am to midnight, while Sunday 12th May from 9am to 8pm.
The Alpine Citadel – Still in Campo Marzo, here you can closely explore the modern vehicles, equipment and activities carried out by the Alpine troops. The ANA Civil Protection will present the various specialties, equipment and technologies available. Space will also be dedicated to the field hospital modules, with a functioning kitchen for soldiers and volunteers present in the Citadel. The structure will be open on Thursday from 10am to 4pm for schools, while on Friday and Saturday it will be open to the public from 9am to 8pm and Sunday from 9am to 6pm.
Alpini gathering: 84 events with choirs and fanfares in Vicenza and its province
Program of the 95th National Gathering
Friday 10 May
It will all begin on Friday 10 May at dawn, with the solemn opening of the 95th national meeting of the National Alpine Association, an event that Vicenza already hosted in 1991 and which now, after 33 years, it welcomes back. At 9:00 precise, the flag raising will take place in Piazza dei Signori, a moment that will be connected to the four shrines of Pasubio, Asiago, Cimone and Grappa, as well as Mount Ortigara. Will follow at 9.15am the laying of a wreath, always in the evocative setting of Piazza dei Signori. Subsequently, at 10.30am, the inauguration of the Alpini Citadel will take placea moment that will be held in Campo Marzo.
In the afternoon, at 6.30pmwill start the parade of banners, which will cross the streets from Piazza Castello to Piazza dei Signori. This parade will be followed at 7:00 pm from the march of the banners, of the national banner, of the banner of the Vicenza section and of the war flag of an Alpine department, an evocative procession that will always wind from Piazza Castello to Piazza dei Signori. Here, once the deployment is complete, Mayor Giacomo Possamai will give a warm welcome to all participants. This will be followed by honors of the war flag and decorated banners, in a moment of profound respect and gratitude.
Saturday 11 May
On Saturday morning, the official day will begin at 10:00 at the suggestive Teatro Olimpico, with a special meeting by invitation. The national president, Sebastiano Favero, will meet with the foreign sections, the delegations of the International Federation of Mountain Soldiers and the foreign soldiers. An exciting parachute jump is scheduled for 1pm.
In the afternoon, at 4.00 pm, mass will be celebrated in the Cathedralfollowed by 5.30pm from the parade of the national banner of the National Alpini Association (ANA) and the banner of the Vicenza section, which will run from Piazza Duomo to the Teatro Comunale. Here, at 6.00 pm, an invitation-only event will be held, during which the mayor Possamai and the national president Favero will greet the authorities present.
Sunday 12 May
On Sunday, the culmination of the three days of celebrations and events will be represented by the traditional parade through the streets of the centre. The gathering of participants will begin at 8:00 in the morningfollowed by 8.45am come on solemn honors paid to the highest authority. At 9:00, the infinite snake of black feathers will begin to wind through the streets of the citycreating a breathtaking spectacle.
Towards the late afternoon, or perhaps at the beginning of the evening, once the parade has come to an end with the passage of the “Monte Pasubio” section, the traditional passage of the cue will take place. This symbolic gesture will mark the conclusion of the current meeting and the beginning of the organization of the next one. In Vicenza, the Biella section will receive the symbolic cue, giving it the honor and burden of organizing the 96th national meeting next year.
Mobility and Parking during the 95th National Alpine Gathering
The National Alpine Gathering in Vicenza expects a significant turnout of participants and visitors. To guarantee safety and traffic fluidity, the city has implemented a mobility plan that divides the historic center into three main zones: red zone, orange zone and yellow zone. Here is a detailed description of each zone and its restrictions:
Red Zone – The red zone includes the heart of the historic center and will be completely closed to vehicular traffic and parking from dawn on Friday 10 May until the end of the event on the evening of Sunday 12 May. Within this zone, all roads must remain free of parked vehicles. Residents and holders of parking passes in the “blue” or “yellow” lines will have the opportunity to park in the “Canove” and “Fogazzaro” car parks, also located in the red zone, via specified routes.
Orange Zone – The orange zone extends around the red zone and follows the perimeter of the ring of city avenues. Similar to the red zone, here too a traffic and parking ban will be in force for all unauthorized vehicles during the same hours as the Gathering. Only residents will be able to drive and park on internal streets, upon request and obtaining a special permit identifying the authorized vehicle.
Yellow Zone – The yellow zone concerns the peripheral areas of the centre, used mainly for the gathering and departure of the big Sunday parade. This area will see similar traffic restrictions to the others, but will be specifically focused on the logistical needs of the parade. During the event, it will be forbidden to move vehicles both for parking and for circulation in the streets involved.
Public transport – To support visitors in accessing the event, the public transport service will be strengthened. Special reduced rate tickets will be available for all public transport, which can be purchased online or at authorized resellers.
Parking lots
During the National Alpine Gathering in Vicenza, which will be held from 10 to 12 May 2024, the historic center area will be subject to severe restrictions on circulation and parking. For this reason, it is important to plan your trips carefully and know the areas where you can park.
Free parking
- Vicenza Fair: approximately 5,000 parking spaces available, with free shuttles to the historic center (every 15 minutes).
- Romeo Menti Stadium: approximately 1,500 parking spaces available, with free shuttles to the historic center (every 20 minutes).
- Palasport Palexpo: approximately 1,000 parking spaces available, with free shuttles to the historic center (every 30 minutes).
- Campo Marzo car park: approximately 500 parking spaces available, approximately 2 km from the historic centre.
- San Lazzaro car park: approximately 300 parking spaces available, approximately 1.5 km from the historic centre.
Paid parking
Foro Boario garage: in a semi-central area, near the Foro Boario (about 300 parking spaces).
Multi-storey car park Vicenza Centro: in a semi-central area, near the railway station (about 500 parking spaces).
ZTL zone: The historic center of Vicenza will be completely ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) during the days of the Gathering. Access will only be allowed to residents, holders of special permits and emergency vehicles.
Cultural and Recreational Initiatives
A rich program of exhibitions and cultural events will take place in parallel with the Gathering, with the aim of enhancing the historical and cultural heritage of Vicenza and the Alpine tradition. Free exhibitions, extended museum hours and special promotions will be available to attendees and visitors.
Free entry exhibitions – 21 exhibitions are planned which will delve into various aspects of the history of the Alpine troops through images, objects, photos, documents, drawings and paintings. The offices of the Civic Museums of Vicenza will host 13 of the 17 exhibitions planned in the city. These include four exhibitions at the Galleries of Palazzo Thiene: “Alpine values in the 152 years since the Constitution”, “Ubaldo Oppi Alpine painter”, “The Alpini in the First World War” and “The Battle of Ortigara”; two exhibitions at the Museum of the Risorgimento and the Resistance: “Maurizio Lazzaro de’ Castiglioni, an Alpino with a place among the Righteous” and “Giuliano Gozi Alpine San Marino”; the cloister of Santa Corona with “The war among the ice of the Ortles”, the Bertoliana Library of Palazzo Cordellina will host the exhibition “Far from all good, lost in silence, close to the stars. Traveling with Giulio Bedeschi and the Hundred Thousand Ice Boxes” and in the cloister of San Lorenzo it will focus on “Women in the Italian Wars”.
At the Monte Berico Sanctuary it will be possible to delve deeper into the “ONUMOZ-Operation Albatros” mission and the history of the “4th Alpine Parachute Ranger Regiment”.
Four exhibitions will be held in other municipalities, including Montecchio Maggiore with the Civic Museum of the Armed Forces, Arzignano with the Galleria Achille Beltrame, Quinto Vicentino with Villa Thiene and Valli del Pasubio with Forte Maso.
Museums with extended hours
The city’s museums will observe an extraordinary opening on Monday 6 and Monday 13 May, with some locations having extended opening hours to allow for a greater influx of visitors. The Olympic Theater and the Galleries of Palazzo Thiene will be open continuously from 9am to 10pm, Friday 10th and Saturday 11th May. The Basilica Palladiana will also have an extended opening on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th May, from 10am to 10pm.
