A 25 April in memory of the ‘Fighters for Freedom’. A programme that was born out of discussions with the associations that took part in the ‘Tavolo Memoria’ (Table of Memory) with the aim of giving life, in a coordinated manner, to a long calendar of events that started a few days ago. Castelfiorentino is preparing to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation by first of all paying homage to the memory of the volunteers who left Piazza Gramsci on 3 February 1945 to participate in the last offensive on the Gothic Line. There will also be trekking routes along the paths where the partisan formations fought, and other theatrical or commemorative events.
The trekking programme includes on 20-21 April a walk in San Pellegrino in Alpe, and on 25 April a ‘Camminata resistente’ (Resistant Walk) organised by the Geco group; on 26 April the Spac Trekking group is organising a walk along the Gothic Line (‘on the Via Flaminia minor’) in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, and on 26-27 April there is a new trek in Lunigiana (San Terenzo Monti) promoted by the Geco group.
Two events are scheduled for 24 April: a workshop to prepare the ‘antifascist pasta’ (which will be eaten the following day) and a theatrical performance at the ‘Stanza Rossa’ entitled ‘Radici’ (Roots), organised by Gatteatro.
The 25 April celebrations will open in the morning with the unveiling in Piazza Gramsci (10.00 a.m., near the lift) of the plaque in memory of the Resistance, which will be followed at the Ridotto (10.30 a.m.) by the celebration of the anniversary of 3 February, during which a video will be shown with some testimonies and a parchment will be handed over to the families of the volunteers. At 11.30 a.m. an exhibition with photos and unpublished documents of the ‘freedom fighters’ will be inaugurated at the ‘Spazio eventi’ in Corso Matteotti. At 12.30 p.m. the ‘Partisan Lunch’ at the Circolo ‘Puppino’ and at 3 p.m. the car ride for the laying of laurel wreaths at memorial stones and monuments (Municipal Cemetery and hamlets), which will be followed by a procession on foot through the streets of the town centre. Conclusion in Piazza Gramsci with a concert by the Filarmonica ‘G. Verdi’ and speeches by the Mayor, Francesca Giannì, and ANPI President, Marco Cappellini.
‘We are happy to be able to present this programme,‘ observes the Councillor in charge of Memory, Marta Longaresi, “which is the result of discussions with the associations that took up our invitation to participate in the ”Tavolo Memoria’ (Memory Table) so that we could promote a shared calendar, avoiding overlapping as much as possible and trying to gather all the proposals, starting with the idea of a plaque in memory of the Resistance, which was made possible thanks to the contribution of many citizens. I hope that this may represent a first step on a path to be travelled together in the future as well, to promote the value of memory and transmit its values and valuable lessons to the entire community. We will also continue our commitment to historical research and its irreplaceable cultural value, in cooperation with Councillor Franco Spina’.
