National infantry rally in Trieste, parade on Sunday: Rive closed and buses diverted

TRIESTE It officially opened on Saturday 25 May the 36th National Gathering of Italian Infantrymen.

The event was kicked off by a meeting in the Trieste City Council Hall afterwards that yesterday the ceremony took place for the arrival of the Tricolore of the Gathering from the Molo Audace and its display on the Colle di San Giusto.

The celebrations will culminate Sunday 26 May with the great Fanti parade along the city banks: the participation of over 10 thousand people is expected.

Buses diverted

They will come to allow the event the routes of bus lines 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 24 and 30 have been modified. (Details here)

Banks closed

From 7.30am to 2pm on Sunday 26 May, a transit ban is imposed for all vehicles:

Rive: between via di Mercato Vecchio and via Milano; in via Mazzini and in via Genova, between via Roma and le Rive; in via del Canal Piccolo, between via Roma and Rive

Obligatory right turn: from via Valdirivo towards piazza Libertà

Obligation to stop and give way (Stop)

for all vehicles coming from via Genova (section closed to traffic) entering via Roma.

The meeting in the Town Hall

Returning to Saturday’s meeting in the Town Hall, the guests were welcomed in the City Council Hall by a representative of the Municipality of Trieste, who brought institutional greetings and remembered the 70th anniversary of the reunification of Trieste with Italy (1954) recurring this year.

After the honors for the arrival of the National Medalist of the National Infantryman’s Association, the national president of the National Infantryman’s Association spoke Gianni Stucchi, stating that for those present, being in Trieste is like returning home and that tomorrow’s parade represents an opportunity for Fanti from all over the country to embrace the city on the anniversary of its return to Italy.

The gathering also celebrates the 400th anniversary of the establishment in 1624 of the 1st Infantry Regiment (the Savoy Regiment, initially with the name of “Fleury”, which later became “Brigata Re” and then “San Giusto”) and recalls that Trieste is the first city to recognize honorary citizenship to the Unknown Soldier.

Later the colonel Massimiliano Spucches presented the 66th “Trieste” Airmobile Infantry Regiment: originally established in 1862 as part of the Royal Army, it participated in the Third War of Independence during the Risorgimento, in the two World Wars and subsequently in numerous operations in international scenarios.

It is currently the only airmobile infantry unit, i.e. combined with aviation components, of the Italian Army. The Municipality of Trieste has announced that tomorrow (Sunday 26 May) the 14th Century Seal of the City of Trieste will be awarded to the 66th “Trieste” Airmobile Infantry Regiment (see the calendar below).

The presidents of Assofante of Trieste and Forlì also spoke. The institutional moment concluded with an exchange of gifts, to leave room for the Assembly of the National Council of the National Infantryman’s Association, scheduled for the same morning in the City Council Room.

We would also like to remind you that until tomorrow (Sunday) the exhibition ”36th National Gathering of Italian Infantrymen’‘ from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 8pm.

Here is the program of subsequent events (here is the link)

Saturday 25 May

12.30 pm: Holy Mass in the church of Sant’Antonio Taumaturgo, Piazza Sant’Antonio in Trieste 3 pm: wreath laying at the National Monument of the San Sabba Risiera. The participants will be able to independently access the Rice Mill Museum and Memorial;

Time to be confirmed: wreath deposition at the Shrine of Guglielmo Oberdan Via XXIV Maggio 4. Those present will be able to access the Risorgimento Museum independently;

5pm: conference “Patrols in the East” by Pierpaolo Donvito, analysis of the organization of the defensive system on the eastern border and the Trieste Karst in the years of the Cold War – Sala Costantinides of the Sartorio Largo Papa Giovanni XXIII Museum, 1 in Trieste

7.30 pm: performance of bands and fanfares of the Sections of the National Infantryman Association in Piazza Unità d’Italia, Piazza della Borsa and Piazza Ponte Rosso.

Sunday 26 May

7.30 am: start of massing of the Sections of the National Infantryman’s Association in Piazza Unità d’Italia

9am: flag raising 10.30am: start of ceremony: speeches by the authorities and the National President of the Infantryman’s Association Gianni Stucchi, Delivery of the 14th Century Seal of the 66th Airmobile Infantry Regiment “Trieste”;

12pm: Sections withdraw from Piazza Unità d’Italia and march along the banks of Trieste until they reach Piazza Ponterosso. Conclusion of the ceremony of passing the Flag of the Rally to the Palermo Section.

6pm: flag lowering in Piazza Unità d’Italia and closing of the 36th National Gathering of Italian Infantrymen.