Militaria

Militaria, the memory of the Gothic Line in Castel del Rio

Militaria is the event that every year, on the third Sunday in May, transforms the small municipality of Castel del Rio, in the Bologna Apennines, into Italy's main meeting point for collectors and military history enthusiasts. The event is promoted and organized by the volunteers of the War Museum Association - Gothic Line, custodian of one of the richest collections in Emilia-Romagna dedicated to the two world wars and the Resistance.

A large swap meet under Palazzo Alidosi

The heart of the day is the swap meet for military memorabilia and objects: Piazza della Repubblica, in front of the 16th-century Palazzo Alidosi, fills with stalls and stands from dealers, collectors, and enthusiasts. In recent years, participation has exceeded seventy exhibitors, mainly from Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Veneto, and Piedmont, offering uniforms, documents, equipment, and vintage artifacts. Stalls are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and the event takes place even in case of rain, with covered space in the large Sala Magnus.

Historical military vehicles and Gothic Line rally

Among the most anticipated events is the rally of original military vehicles, largely from World War II, which parade through the village streets in the morning. The day is traditionally linked to the Rally of the Gothic Line Combat Groups and commemorative moments, with the laying of wreaths at the monuments to the Folgore paratroopers and the Resistance, in memory of the fighting that took place in the Santerno valley in 1944-1945.

Open day at the museum

During Militaria, the War Museum - Gothic Line opens its exhibition halls on the second floor of Palazzo Alidosi free of charge. Here, over two thousand items are cataloged in sections dedicated to World War I, World War II and partisan activity, and the deportation of Castel del Rio citizens. Next to the palace, the F-104 Starfighter fighter jet, donated by the Italian Air Force, is permanently displayed as a major symbol of the initiative.

An event rooted in the territory

More than just a fair, Militaria has become an occasion for collective memory for the community of the upper Santerno valley and for the whole of Emilia-Romagna. The event combines historical re-enactment, collecting, popular traditions, and cultural tourism, attracting visitors from all over the peninsula to Castel del Rio and helping to keep alive the memory of the Gothic Line and those who fought there.