WW2 Escape Lines Memorial Society Registered Charity No: 1148116

Italian Freedom Trail, Sulmona 2017

Sulmona's Piazza Garibaldi with the mountains beyond

Sulmona is one of the oldest towns in Abruzzo, with many buildings from the middle ages or earlier. It is well known for being the native town of the poet Ovid and is a secluded and somewhat overlooked small city in Abruzzo. Surrounded by imposing mountains at about four hundred metres above sea level, it doesn’t feel as if it has 25,000 inhabitants. Every year, under the direction of the Liceo Scientifico local people take part in a commemorative trail event, visiting a number of the local villages that sheltered Allied POWs in 1944/45. Many of these had come from PG 78, the POW camp that was not far from the town. Much of the camp still exists today, although it’s not usually open to the public.

The event for 2017 takes place over 28 - 30 April. . The outline programme is:

IL Sentiero della Liberta

Route Sulmona - PG78 - Campo di Giove - Taranta Peligna - Casoli
Date 28-29-30 April 2017

Day 1 Start point - 0800 - Liceo Scientifico

  • 0930 - Piazza (28 th September) - Sulmona
  • 1000- Leave for Campo di Giove
  • 1600 - Arrive at Campo di Giove

Day 2 0800 - Assemble Campo di Giove camp site

  • 0900 - Leave for Taranta Peligna via Guado di C0ccia
  • 1700 - Arrive at Taranta Peligna

Day 3 0800 - Assemble main square at Taranta Peligna

  • 0830 - Leave for Casoli
  • 1800 - Arrive at Casoli

If you are interested in joining the trail you will need to contact the Liceo Scientifico, who organise and run the event. The contact details are;

Associazione Cultural ” II Sentiero della liberta”, Freedom Trail, c/o Liceo Scientifico, E Fermi, Viale Togliatti, 67039, Sulmona. Italy.

Tel 00 39 0864 51771

Email; iscrizione@ilsentierodellaliberta.it
Website; www.ilsentierodellaliberta.it

There are transport, feeding and accommodation details in the complete programme. The website is only in Italian, but there are a number of English speakers at the Liceo who should be able to assist English participants! Those intending to participate will need to arrive in Sulmona by 27 April at the latest. The nearest airport is Pescara, served by Ryan Air from Stanstead, and it is also possible to fly to Rome with Easyjet (Luton, Gatwick and Bristol) and take the train to Sulmona