L’AQUILA – For the eighth appointment the Apennine Festival returns to Abruzzo on Saturday 6 July at the foot of the Gemelli Mountains, this time facing the Gran Sasso massif, in Valle Piola di Torricella Sicura in the province of Teramo. The afternoon will begin with an excursion to Acquaratola and then upon return, a performance by Domenico Turchi with “The Tales of Wallonia” and the evening will end with a concert by the band Burro e Salvia. In this stage we will live a unique experience, a journey through time through the history of an abandoned village that is being reborn thanks to the desire for valorization initiatives, to bring lovers of slow tourism to discover this side of the central Apennines.
This edition of the event is characterised by an “expansion” of its
traditional borders, promoted by the Extraordinary Commissioner for Reconstruction and Repair of the 2016 Earthquake, Guido Castelli and by Bim Tronto. For the first time, in fact,
in addition to the Marche, the Festival also involves Abruzzo, Lazio and Umbria together with the collaboration of Bim Vomano-Tordino Teramo, Bim Nera-Velino Cascia and Bim Nera-Velino Rieti. The goal remains unchanged: to give life to an event dedicated to wellness, sustainable and experiential. An event with a tourist and cultural vocation that combines, in a dense program of events, various activities: excursions, shows, performances, concerts, meetings, presentations and food and wine, promoting a type of experiential and accessible tourism.
The Extraordinary Commissioner for the 2016 earthquake, Guido Castellistated that “Torricella Sicura is an area on which the commissioner structure is paying the utmost attention. He confirms it the recent approval by the Conference of Services of the Extraordinary Reconstruction Plan of the Municipality of Teramo.
A significant intervention for the urban and social fabric of Torricella Sicura that not only allows us to recover from the earthquake damage, but also to improve and enhance infrastructures and services such as schools, sports facilities and the multipurpose social centre. Fundamental places for keeping the community fabric alive and cohesive. Another intervention that I would like to highlight is the one for the regeneration project of Villa Celommi-Capuani, for which we have increased the contribution to 1.4 million euros. This is a point of reference for Torricella Sicura which will thus be able to fully return to carrying out its function: an attractive place of memory and culture. A work of social and economic repair, just like the Festival dell’Appennino, which is part of this strategy of enhancing the beauty, history and traditions of our territories through cultural and nature activities. An event that aims to help raise awareness of the central Apennines, and to encourage its tourist use, made possible thanks to the commitment and collaboration of the four BIMs”.
The President of the Vomano-Tordino BIM Consortium of Teramo, Mark DiNicola he has declared: “The appointment of Valle Piola, in the municipality of Torricella Sicura, is the second stage of the Festival dell’Appennino in Teramo and Abruzzo, particularly significant for us because it is set in a once abandoned village, which has been the subject of a significant recovery and enhancement intervention. The Festival dell’Appennino, in this sense, constitutes an important cultural vehicle to combat depopulation and promote knowledge of the territories on which our identity is based. The BIM Consortium of Teramo wanted to be an active part of this initiative in synergy with the other BIMs of central Italy, because reconstruction is not only a material process but also and above all passes through the cultural and social regeneration of our internal areas.”
The meeting is at 3.45pm in Valle Piola, and then departure for the excursion at 4pm.
IMPORTANT: To reach Valle Piola for those coming from Piceno Aprutina, absolutely do not follow the directions on Google Maps. Get to the roundabout before Teramo, on the Vezzola bridge and turn right towards Castagneto. From Castagneto follow the Festival dell’Appennino arrows for Pastignano, then Poggio Valle and Valle Piola, the last three km are on a dirt road.
The excursion with departure and return to Valle Piola, has a difficulty E (Hiking for everyone) and is 5.4 km long, with a difference in altitude of 185 meters and a travel time of approximately 2 hours and a half (round trip).
Upon returning from the excursion at 7pm for a performance by Domenico Turchi with “The Tales of Wallonia”.
At 8pm free dinner, for those who want it will be possible to dine at the refreshment point at the Rifugio del Pastore organized by the Pro loco of Torricella Sicura. The fixed menu at 15 euros includes: mezzamaniche with ragù, sheep alla callara, water or glass of wine. Furthermore, there will be other products aside: sausage sandwich, stuffed pancake, fried cheese sandwich. Possibility of vegan or vegetarian dishes on request by calling the number 3332179561 only during these times 1.30-2.30pm/8.30-9.30pm no later than Friday 5 July at 9.30pm.
The evening will continue at 9.30pm with a concert by the band Burro e Salvia who, with a repertoire of Italian songs from the 1920s to the 1950s, will entertain and move us with brilliant tunes and great feelings of love, through the tenor voice, seasoned with a little swing, by David Mazzoni.
Participation is free but reservations are required in order to better organize the event, by filling out the form on the date on the website www.festivaldellappennino.it.
Recommendations:
- • mandatory to wear trekking shoes
- • have at least one litre of water with you
- • bring a sweatshirt/kway and towel/mat
- • a complete change of clothes is recommended and left in the car
- • It is recommended to bring a headlamp or torch in the evening
Apennines Festival 2024, inclusive of nature
The Festival is promoted by the Extraordinary Commissioner for the Reconstruction of the 2016 Earthquake and Bim Tronto, with the collaboration of Bim Vomano-Todino Teramo, Bim Nera-Velino Cascia and Bim Nera-Velino Rieti, the Marche Region, the Umbria Region, the Abruzzo Region, the Lazio Region, the Chamber of Commerce of the Marche, the Chamber of Commerce of Umbria, the Chambers of Commerce Gran Sasso d’Italia, the Chamber of Commerce Rieti-Viterbo, in synergy with the 23 Municipalities of the central Apennines, partners of the event, Accumoli, Acquasanta Terme, Amatrice, Arquata del Tronto, Ascoli Piceno, Civitella del Tronto, Colledara, Comunanza, Esanatoglia di Narco, Force, Leonessa, Montefortino, Montegallo, Montemonaco, Norcia, Pieve Torina, Rieti, Roccafluvione, Rotella, Sant’Anatolia di Narco, Torricella sicura, Ussita, Venarotta, with the artistic direction of the Cultural Association Appennino up and Mete Picene.
