Gathering of the Alpini 2022, Rimini and San Marino ready to welcome – Chronicle
Rimini, 21 April 2022 – Bands and fanfares, tournaments, performances, exhibitions, and a one-day long parade. The famous National Gathering of the Alpiniafter the stop due to the pandemic, it arrives for the first time in Rimini.
Four days, from 5 to 8 May next, full of events, which will end with the highlight: the great parade that will last all day on Sunday and which will parade along the seafront of the coastal capital. 90 thousand Alpini, divided by membership sections. Saturday 7 May the event moves to San Marino with the deposition of crowns, parades and the inauguration of an exhibition.
“The title with which the newspaper ‘L’Alpino’ presents this meeting is ‘Finally’, – explains the director Bruno Fasani – a breath of fresh air after the past two years, without being able to find and rejoice together. Now we meet again in a panorama. alas, of war, but we will still try to derive joy from being together. There will be a nice festive atmosphere thanks to the joy of the Alpine troops who will meet the cordiality and hospitality of the Romagna and the Republic of San Marino “.
New this year
By chance, the edition of the “restart” coincided with the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Alpine Corps. Therefore, there will not be only one flag but all the War Flags those of the Regiments. If we also count the 100 years since the birth of the Bolognese Romagnola Division, “there are two more reasons to celebrate”.
The territory and the city of Rimini is thus preparing to host approx 500 thousand people, among the members of the brigades, their families and fans of the specialty of the Infantry from all over Italy. A significant opportunity also for tourism with direct and indirect induced activities estimated at 145 million euros (elaboration of the Regional Tourist Observatory).
“Never has an event been so desired by Rimini and for so long (after the two years of the pandemic)”. Thus the mayor of Rimini, Jamil Sadegholvaad: “Today we are, the city is already wearing the tricolor. What prompted us was the desire not to throw away the organizational work done and the joy of hosting an unprecedented event for the city. The Gathering of the Alpini ‘ Lungo mare ‘seems almost an oxymoron: it is the symbol of sharing values that take concrete form. We will continue to work to ensure that everything goes well. We have the ambition to host this event in subsequent editions as well. ” .
The Gathering, which takes place every year in a different Italian city, is chosen by a special commission two years in advance to evaluate, through inspections, the accommodation and organizational capacity of the city. For theEmilia Romagna it is the eighth edition since 1920 – the year in which the gatherings began -, of which the last, nine years ago, in Piacenza: first the Alpine troops marched a Bologna (3 editions), Modena, Reggio Emilia and Parma.
Bonaccini: “Strong signal to restart”
President of the Region, Stefano Bonaccini. “We are very happy to host this gathering. These four days for Rimini and for the whole territory are an extraordinary event: let’s give a signal of actual restart. Furthermore, this national gathering will bring together the whole country and the values on which it is based, at a time when unity and not division is needed, given the war on Europe’s doorstep. The value brought by the Alpine troops with this event is made up of content and sociability but it is also economic: a precious inducement for the local economy. Rimini, after the war, was razed to the ground, nevertheless the Rimini residents, rolling up their sleeves, have built a tourist destination that appeals to many. With this event he takes the umpteenth opportunity to show his hospitality “.