Great success for the autumn edition of the FAI: visitors from all over the region and from outside Abruzzo. Emotion for the arrival from England of George Williamson, son of a former prisoner of Camp 78.
It was a real triumph for the FAI Autumn Days in Sulmona, which over the weekend recorded over two thousand visitors to the three sites opened by the FAI Delegation of Sulmona: Campo 78, Sant’Onofrio al Morrone and Casino Pantano. Important numbers that confirm the great attractiveness of the area and the strength of the work of the FAI volunteers, who have been engaged for years in valorising the symbolic places of the Peligna Valley.
Visitors came from all over the region and also from outside Abruzzo, with a significant presence from the coast. All three places aroused enthusiasm and curiosity, but Campo 78 touched the hearts of the participants thanks to the stories of the prisoners of the Second World War and the theatrical readings by MarfaTeatro, which made the visit experience even more intense.
A particularly emotional moment marked the day: George Williamson, son of a former prisoner of Camp 78, reached Sulmona from England together with his family after learning of the extraordinary opening through the FAI information channels. With him he brought a photo of his father, a prisoner in that very camp, whose history is documented by the Red Cross. The Williamson family’s visit moved everyone, transforming the event into an occasion of shared memory.
Great participation also in Sant’Onofrio al Morrone, recognized as a “Place of the FAI Heart” in Abruzzo, where visitors were able to admire the frescoes saved by the FAI and discover the story of the hermit Celestine V. Casino Pantano was also highly appreciated, which fascinated visitors with its legends and its centuries-old history.
Also present at the Campo 78 visit was the mayor of Sulmona, Luca Tirabassi, who wanted to thank the Delegation for their commitment and confirm the collaboration of the municipal administration.
«We are deeply satisfied – declared the head of the FAI delegation of Sulmona, Franca Leone –. These days have shown that our places are alive, attractive and rich in history. The large influx of public is proof that the memory and beauty of the area must remain accessible to all. I sincerely thank the volunteers, the delegates and all those who made this success possible.”
The 2025 FAI Autumn Days therefore end with an extremely positive outcome for Sulmona: a weekend of culture, emotion and participation which confirms once again how the Peligna Valley is a treasure chest of treasures to be rediscovered and preserved.
