Partisan Trails (Sentieri Partigiani)
Eighty years ago, Italy was at war, torn between Nazi-fascist occupation, the anti-fascist Resistance movement and the slow liberation of the territory that began with the Allied landings in Sicily.
1944 was a crucial year for the Second World War. For Italy it was a year full of events, of war and struggle, of hunger, cold and bombings, of reprisals, deportations and massacres. It was the year of the extraordinary affirmation and growth of the Resistance in almost all the areas occupied by the Nazis and Fascists: not only battles and sabotage, but also small and large experiments in a new Italy yet to be built.
With this in mind, Mountain Wilderness devoted an entire year to retrace the mountain trails once used by partisans in the regions Lazio, Abruzzi, Tuscany, Friuli, Trentino, Veneto and Piedmont. A choice of field, in the name of the Italian Constitution, and of particular relevance in the current context. Sentieri Partigiani was a joint effort of many associations and institutions.
The last event of Sentieri Partigiani was held in Paraloup on 8 September, and was made possible thanks to the help of: Nuto Revelli Foundation, Borgata Paraloup, Mai tardi – Associazione amici di Nuto, Historical Institute of the Resistance of Cuneo, Maritime Alps Nature Park, ANPI (National Association of Italian Partisans), CAAI (Italian Academic Alpine Club – Western Group), Libera Cuneo and Gruppo Abele.
Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions forced the organisers to hold the event indoors. A pity, because the small amphitheatre of Paraloup overlooks an impervious and fascinating mountain landscape. The Foundation’s library welcomed the hundred or so dripping guests, attracted in particular by the announced presence of Don Luigi Ciotti, priest, activist, founder of Gruppo Abele and Libera, strongly involved in the fight against criminal organisations and very committed to the protection of the Alpine environment.
During the event, the Honorary President of Mountain Wilderness International Carlo Alberto (Betto) Pinelli and the Vice President of Mountain Wilderness Italy Nicola Pech took the floor, respectively explaining the purpose of the initiative and the activities in Italy, urging everyone to join our efforts.
As was logical and desirable, the lion’s share was taken by Don Luigi Ciotti. His speech, always inspired and at times overwhelming, took his cue from the moral lesson of the war of liberation in the mountains, to address other wide-ranging themes, directly or indirectly connected to the message that the mountains can convey, if lived with a spirit of humility but also with courage, rebelling against the dehumanising logic of capitalist aggression.
The lunch break was enlivened by a duet of musicians, armed with guitars, accordion and hurdy-gurdy, who sang the best-known partisan songs, followed by some popular Occitan songs.
The event ended in the early afternoon with a visit to the beautiful Museum of Partisan Tales.