Zone Libere

A festival for the memory of the Resistance

Zone Libere is a widespread festival that combines live music, historical reflection, and nature walks to honor the partisan Resistance of the Piacenza region. It takes place between the provincial capital Piacenza and the Municipality of Morfasso, in the mountains of the Val d'Arda, in the province of Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna). The heart of the initiative is the Museum of Piacenza Resistance, housed in the hamlet of Sperongia, a symbolic place of the territory's anti-fascist memory.

Origin and dedication

The festival was created in memory of Pio Prosperi, a volunteer at the Museum of Piacenza Resistance who passed away in 2023, and is inspired by his thought: "I am a partisan and I am proud of it, there will be smiles even after the tears." The event also recalls the liberation of Morfasso on May 24, 1944, when partisan formations under the command of Wladimiro Bersani liberated the town. The name "Zone Libere" (Free Zones) evokes the partisan republics, the mountain territories taken from Nazi-fascist control during the War of Liberation.

Three days, three souls

The program is divided into three days, each with its own character:

• Resistant Rock Festival in the city, with a long evening of concerts by local bands and the traditional "Anti-fascist Pasta."
• Historical Insight at the Museum of Sperongia, with presentations by scholars and historians dedicated to the free zones and partisan republics, followed by a musical aperitif.
• Guided Excursion on the Resistance trails, exploring the places that were the backdrop to the partisan struggle in the Apennines.

Between city and mountain

The "widespread" formula is the distinctive feature of Zone Libere: the city part, more festive and musical, takes place at Coop Infrangibile in Piacenza, while the weekend moves to higher altitudes, between Morfasso and Vernasca, where historical memory blends with the landscape of the Piacenza Apennines. The festival is an opportunity to discover the local Resistance heritage in a community and popular setting, with free admission to the events.

A community event

Promoted by the Museum of Piacenza Resistance together with ANPI Lugagnano-Alta Val d'Arda and Coop Infrangibile, Zone Libere involves musicians, volunteers, hikers, and history enthusiasts. It is a free, participatory, and outdoor event, designed to pass on anti-fascist memory to new generations through different languages, from rock music to hiking, from historical debate to conviviality.