International Freedom Trail March – Taranta Peligna Stage

A march along the paths of the Resistance

The International Freedom Trail March is a memorial journey that takes place every year around April 25th, retracing the ancient route that served as an escape path toward freedom during the Second World War. Spanning approximately sixty kilometers from Sulmona to Casoli across the Maiella mountain passes, the route follows the path taken by Allied prisoners, civilians, and anti-fascists who, after the armistice of September 8, 1943, attempted to cross the Gustav Line that divided Abruzzo in two.

The Taranta Peligna stage

At the heart of the journey lies the Taranta Peligna stage, a small town in the Province of Chieti nestled in the Aventino Valley at the foot of the Maiella. The second day of the march leads the group of participants to this village, which was deeply scarred by the war: in October 1943, the population was forced to evacuate because the town sat directly on the Gustav Line.

The most poignant moment of this stage is the stop at the Brigata Maiella Memorial, a monument dedicated to the partisans who fought alongside the Allies as they moved north through Italy. Visiting the memorial turns the physical exertion of the hike into a moment of reflection and shared remembrance.

A community journey

Each year, the march involves about three hundred participants, mostly high school students from Sulmona, Casoli, Castel di Sangro, and other institutions, accompanied by their teachers. It is not a sporting competition but a collective experience in civic education, where the mountain trail becomes a tool for rediscovering the history of the humanitarian and armed Resistance in Abruzzo.

The event is promoted by the Freedom Trail Association, which has organized the march since 2001 in collaboration with the municipalities along the route, the ANPI, and local institutions. The journey is accompanied by meetings, conferences, and commemorative ceremonies along the entire itinerary.

Taranta Peligna and the Maiella

Visiting Taranta Peligna means crossing a territory where the wild nature of the Maiella and the memories of the 20th century intertwine. The village, once known for the production of wool and fabrics called "taranta," offers hikers a resting point immersed in the Maiella National Park, among beech forests, springs, and mountain trails. The stage thus combines high-altitude hiking with the story of one of the most dramatic and noble chapters of Abruzzese history.