The historic center of Vicenza is invaded by the black feathers, by their relatives, or by simply curious people, on the second day of the National Alpine Gathering, the Saturday before the parade.
Between 400 and 500 thousand people are expected over the three days which will culminate with the parade on Sunday. Around the streets, since the morning, there is a festive air, with toasts and choirs.
The morning is dedicated to the foreign sections of the Alpine association, which met at the Olympic Theatre. 500 of them from most of the countries that were once the destination of Italian emigration. The largest groups were from Germany, France and Switzerland. But there are also those who have crossed the ocean, from the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina. Emigrants after military service or children of Alpine soldiers born abroad.
Security measures are important. Airspace closed. Mobile police stations where you can submit reports of any thefts, disturbances or harassment. For now everything has gone smoothly.
The war on pickpockets
Six warnings from the city were issued against people (5 men and a woman) by the Vicenza Police Headquarters against suspicious people, with police records for theft, during the first day of security checks linked to the large-scale turnout for the Alpini rally in the Berico capital.
Checks organized by the Police Commissioner Dario Sallustio to guarantee the necessary safety framework for the event; the services were attended by members of the Police, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza and Local Police. In Campo Marzo, Corso Palladio and Piazza Castello, various people were checked who, for the investigators, highlighted a suspicious attitude and a possible interest in carrying out crimes against property.
Six of these, already having numerous criminal or police records, and residing in other provinces, were accompanied to the police station: following the outcome of the investigations, the police commissioner issued the same number of compulsory expulsion orders against them, which are added to other 14 similar measures taken on the previous day (Thursday) of checks.
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The Alpine citadel
It is called Cittadella degli Alpini and merges the two Alpine souls: the ANA, represented by its Civil Protection and Alpine Healthcare, and the Alpine Troops, specifically the Julia Brigade. An integral part of each Gathering, the exhibition village, set up in Campo Marzo in Vicenza, was officially inaugurated – with flag raising, double ribbon cutting and choreographic landing of the Folgore paratroopers – by the national president Ana Sebastiano Favero, the general of the Corps Army Ignazio Gamba, commander of the Alpine Troops, the president of the Ana Vicenza “Monte Pasubio” Section Lino Marchiori, with the participation of the mayor Giacomo Possamai, the prefect Salvatore Caccamo, the president of the Province Andrea Nardin and, representing the governor of Veneto Luca Zaia, the regional councilor Manuela Lanzarin.
The invitation is as always, both in the military and civil protection sections, not to limit yourself to admiring vehicles and technologies, however cutting-edge, but to talk to the staff to discover stories of great humanity. In fact, at the Cittadella it is not just the equipment that is on show, but the way of being an Alpine soldier, with or without the uniform.
And if it is true that the Black Feathers represent the past that never sets, it is also true that in terms of latest generation equipment and technologies, they are always updated and trained for more effective interventions than ever, be it natural disasters or peacekeeping missions.
And for the people of Vicenza, a special gem: on display, among the camouflage tents, is also the legendary Old Lady, as the Second World War bomb was nicknamed, found 10 years ago at the former Dal Molin airport, which was defused on the 25th April 2014, led to the evacuation of 27,000 residents.
Here is the live broadcast of the parade
1st SECTOR “A” – PREMIUM START OF PARADE AT 9AM
1st military fanfare
Alpine training departments with flags
Group of officers and non-commissioned officers of Alpine troops in service
Vicenza city flag decorated with 2 gold medals for military valour
Banner of the Province of Vicenza
Veneto Region Banner
Banners for various municipalities
Authority
IFMS
Blue Ribbon
UNIRR
Labari Arms Associations
Black Cross Representation
Red Cross Representation
Carnic carriers
Historical re-enactors
School camps
Representation of Alpine Paralympic athletes
1st SECTOR “B”
2nd military fanfare
Military picket in arms
Banner of the National Alpine Association with National Board of Directors
Decorated Alpine soldiers, mutilated and disabled in vehicles
Loyalty to the mountains award
Alpiniadi banner
Operation Albatross
Alpine Ship crew representation
Civil Protection Representation
Alpine Health Representation
National Order Service Representation
2nd FOREIGN SECTOR – PRESUMED START OF PARADE AT 9.30 AM
Alpini from Zadar-Fiume-Pola
Sections abroad South Africa – Argentina – Australia – Brazil – Canada – New York – Chile – Uruguay – Belgium – Luxembourg – Great Britain – Nordic – Germany – Slovakia – Danubiana – Switzerland – France
3rd SECTOR – PRESUMELY START OF THE PARADE AT 10 AM
Civil Protection 4th Group
Centre-South, Islands: Sicily – Sardinia – Naples Campania and Calabria – Bari Puglia and Basilicata – Molise – Latina -Rome – Abruzzi – Marche – Massa Carrara Apuan Alps – Pisa Lucca Livorno – Florence
4TH SECTOR – PRESUMELY START OF THE PARADE AT 11AM
Civil Protection 1st Group
Aosta Valley: Aosta
Liguria: Imperia – Savona – Genoa – La Spezia
Piedmont: Cuneo – Val Susa – Saluzzo – Pinerolo – Ceva – Mondovì – Domodossola – Turin – Ivrea – Intra – Omegna – Biella – Vercelli – Valsesiana – Acqui Terme – Casale Monferrato – Alessandria – Asti – Novara
5TH SECTOR – PRESUMABLE PARADE START AT 2PM
Civil Protection 2nd Group
Emilia Romagna: Piacenza – Parma – Reggio Emilia – Modena – Bolognese Romagnola
Lombardy: Luino – Valtellinese – Varese – Como – Colico – Pavia – Milan – Monza – Lecco – Bergamo – Cremona – Mantua – Salò “Monte Suello” – Brescia – Vallecamonica
6TH SECTOR – PRESUMABLE PARADE START AT 4 PM
Civil Protection 3rd Group
Friuli Venezia Giulia: Carnica – Cividale – Udine – Palmanova – Gemona – Trieste – Gorizia – Pordenone
Trentino Alto Adige: Alto Adige Bolzano – Trento
Veneto: Cadore – Belluno – Feltre – Valdobbiadene – Vittorio Veneto – Conegliano – Treviso – Venice – Padua – Verona – “Monte Ortigara” Asiago – “Monte Grappa” Bassano del Grappa – Marostica – Valdagno
7th SECTOR – PRESUMABLE PARADE START AT 7 PM
Vicenza “Monte Pasubio”
Banner City of Biella
Biella Section Banner with Section Board of Directors
Banner “See you in Biella in 2025”
Group of 152 flags
National Order Service Representation
All exhibitions
In the centre, in Monte Berico and Valli del Pasubio, other exhibitions have been inaugurated which complete the large and varied package announced and implemented on several occasions. Preceded by many other exhibitions inaugurated in the pre-Gathering, the latest Alpine exhibitions can now be visited – in the three days but also beyond.
Citadel of the Alpini (Campo Marzo)
The value of the Alpini (10-12 May), organized by the National Historical Museum of the Alpini
In a field tent, not only the display of historical artefacts but a roll-up exhibition on some of the most emblematic episodes and events which saw legendary figures (but not only) of the Black Feathers as protagonists, and heroes. From the distant foundation of the corps to the most recent international operations, a long history written with valor, sacrifice and heroism in places where it was necessary to survive not only the enemy.
Museum of the Risorgimento and Resistance (viale X Giugno, 115)
Maurizio Lazzaro de’ Castiglioni, an Alpino with a place in the Righteous (10-12 May), edited by Mauro Azzi
Exhibition dedicated to the high official who saved numerous Jews from deportation to Vichy France in 1940.
Sanctuary of Monte Berico (viale X Giugno, 87)
ONUMOZ-Operation Albatros (10-12 May)
edited by Giorgio Gallino
The exhibition retraces the UN mission ONUMOZ (1993-94), Operation ALBATROS 30 years later through photographs, banners, mannequins, memories of the Alpine troops who participated.
4th Alpine Parachute Ranger Regiment (10-12 May)
Organized by the National Alpine Paratroopers Ranger Association
Exhibition of paintings where some historical and contemporary moments of what was the past but also the present of the 4th Alpine Parachute Ranger Regiment are highlighted, representations of moments of courage, of the training and operational life of the department, living testimony of the Alpini of yesterday and of the Alpine Paratroopers Rangers, worthy of their glorious past.
Achille Beltrame Gallery (Arzignano-piazza Libertà, 12)
The life and story of the great illustrator of La Domenica del Corriere (10 and 12 May, not 11 May)
edited by Giuseppe Dal Ceredo
Extraordinary opening of the Gallery which hosts the permanent exhibition of the paintings of the painter from Arzignano, famous above all for the covers created for the famous supplement of the Corriere della Sera, from the first (1899) to the last (1945) issue. Free guided tour for the entire Gathering period.
Forte Maso (Valli del Pasubio-via Forte Maso, 1)
Iron, fire and blood (until 13 May), organized by the Forte Maso association
On the occasion of the 95th Gathering, the first armored fort built on the border between Italy and Austria (in Alta Val Leogra, not far from Pian delle Fugazze), enriches the photographic exhibition already underway until 2 June – with extraordinary images of war relics discovered in the Vicenza mountains and interpreted through the lens of Giuliano Francesconi – with the exhibition of a rare complete collection of medals from the National Alpine Gatherings, from the first in Ortigara in 1920 onwards, received as a gift from the Alpine soldier Giancarlo Piazza di Schio.
