For once we will talk about the “red zone” not in negative terms, but to indicate the historic center as the beating heart of the celebrations for theNational Alpine Gathering 2024departing in Vicenza city where everything is ready to welcome the esteemed 400 thousand former Alpini and sympathizers arriving in Veneto and from Veneto. After 33 years the Black Feathers return to parade – on Sunday 12th – under the “gaze” of Monte Berico, but the global event includes other initiatives and the big party from the morning of Friday 10th and for the entire Saturday 11th May. For the visitors and also for the citizens of Vicenza it is good to know all the useful information in view of the upcoming long weekend, remembering that in the capital Berico the schools all remain closed (in the province lessons are suspended in high schools for two days instead), from those of the childhood and compulsory education up to University and the Conservatory, and that the SVT and rail public transport service will be strengthened.
For those who don’t want to miss anything of the Alpine event, the first solemn appointment in Piazza dei Signori, tomorrow morning at 9, with the official flag raising ceremony. Then followed by the deposition of a floral wreath in memory of the fallen and the inauguration of the Alpine citadel, with the nerve center the area of March Camp. The parade of banners and the march of banners will close the series of events on the first day, with the mayor of Vicenza welcoming and greeting the city’s “guests”. On Saturday morning, at 10, the day begins with a meeting at Olympic Theatre reserved for various authorities, which will end with the performance in the sky with the launch of the parachutists. More rendezvous scheduled in the afternoon, including the Holy Mass in the Cathedral (at 4pm) and the banner parade of the National Alpine Association. Then the highlight, Sunday with the parade of sections and groups through the streets of the center starting from Viale Verona, a crowd marching for hours through Vicenza to receive the warm greeting of the city and visitors. The “passing of the Stecca” ceremony will conclude the great celebration.
It should be remembered for those who travel to Vicenza in these three days that the ordinary road network will undergo changes, advising them to use public transport for travel. The center has been divided into three areas with different colours: red, orange and yellow, with different restrictions to be aware of. Red zone closed to traffic and obviously to the parking of vehicles from dawn tomorrow until the end of the event on Sunday. In practice, these are streets and squares within the ancient walls. The “Canove” and “Fogazzaro”, Stadio and Bandiera in San Bortolo are reserved for residents and subscribers to the historic center car parks via specified routes. It winds around the orange zone, in a sort of “ring” where the traffic and parking ban for all unauthorized vehicles will remain. Compared to the red zone, here residents can get into their cars, move around and park on the internal streets, but only after requesting a special “pass” that identifies the authorized vehicle. Finally the yellow area in the peripheral areas to the south and south-west of the centre, only for Sunday in this case, where the gathering and departure of the final parade are scheduled. In this area there will be restrictions on circulation similar to the others, with a “block” also for residents, but temporary depending on the logistical needs of the parade. During the event, it will in any case be forbidden to move vehicles both for parking and for circulation in the streets involved.
On the front of the transport public the offer of one has been launched special rate – a ticket/season ticket at the cost of 10 euros – which allows facilitated travel on buses and other vehicles for the entire duration of the event from Friday to Sunday, which can be purchased online or at the usual authorized retailers. The alternative is to purchase ordinary tickets. For more detailed information, access the Svt company portal (click). And all the updated maps and timetables are available at this link. As regards Trenitalia, additional routes have been established from various provincial capitals for the transport of the Black Feathers to Vicenza, also strengthening the smaller lines.
Worth highlighting is the wide range of exhibitions set up according to the incoming Alpine tide, all ad free entry, at the Civic Museums at the Bertoliana Library but also at the Sanctuary of Monte Berico and in the cloister of San Lorenzo. Even with extended opening hours until late in the evening, including the Palladian Basilica, as well as the Olympic Theater and the Palazzo Thiene Gallery. Four exhibitions have been reported outside the province: in Montecchio Maggiore with the Civic Museum of the Armed Forces, Arzignano with the Achille Beltrame Gallery, Quinto Vicentino with Villa Thiene and Valli del Pasubio with Forte Maso.
Piazza dei Signori during preparations
