Who we are

Gotica Toscana aps – Loc. Ponzalla 47
50038 – Scarperia (FI)
Italy

Board of Directors

President: Luca Faini

Vice President/Secretary: Filippo Spadi

Board of directors: Michele Vernieri, Noferini Manuel, Francini Vittorio, Vannini Fabrizio, Daniele Rossi

Privacy information (link)

 Registered office: Località Ponzalla 47 – 50038 Scarperia and San Piero (FI)

E-mail: info@goticatoscana.eu; Website address: www.goticatoscana.eu (it, org) ; www.museogotica.it

PEC: postmaster@pec.goticatoscana.eu

Tax code 90022500483

 Legal representative: Mr. Faini Luca

Legal form of the organization: Unrecognized association established on 28/2/2006 with registered private agreement. Registered at Regional Tuscan Register of non-profit organizations Number no. prot. oper 1 of 04/06/2006 Date 02/28/2006.

Registered at Regional Register of Social Promotion Associations with Managerial Act No. 2856 of 11/07/2012.

Registered in the list of Historical Reconstruction and Reenactment Associations and Events of the Tuscany Region (lr 5/2012)

ACTIVITY

Start date of the organization's activities 28/2/2006

Statutory purpose

Conservation of Historical Memory inherent to the events of the last world conflict but not necessarily limited to it, in the world, in Italy and especially in Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. Research, protection, promotion and valorisation of sites and artefacts of artistic and historical interest present in the area dating back to the period of interest, as well as, where possible, being able to benefit from them through restoration, conservation and educational, tourist and cultural use.

Historical-documentary research activities through texts, documents, maps, photographs, manuscripts and more generally documentation relating to the period of interest. Collection of testimonies through interviews, videos and anything that can support the collection itself.

The association does NOT carry out commercial activities.

Main activities carried out by the Association

Management of Documentation and Historical Research Centre located in the Municipality of Scarperia and the associated museum space.

Organization, preparation and support of exhibitions and thematic exhibitions also transversal to the topic with permanent museum purposes.

Organization, preparation and support of reconstruction and historical re-enactment events both static and dynamic, itinerant and fixed, generally relating to the historical period of reference.

Collection of testimonies and archive research relating to the official documents of the various armies and formations involved on the national territory and in the countries of origin.

Interventions by recovery of sites, artefacts and objects dating back to the period.

Activity of search, identification and excavation of those fallen or missing in combat of all nationalities, in Italy or abroad in collaboration with organizations and institutions.

Collaborations with other private and/or public bodies

Municipalities of Scarperia, Florence, Felonica, Sermide, Castiglion F.no, Greve in Chianti, Barberino di M.llo; Mountain Union of Mugello Municipalities;

Museum of the 2nd World War of the Po River – MN, Memorial Museum of Freedom BO, The Winter Line Museum BO; SIGGMI Italian Society of Geography and Military Geology; World War II Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation (USA), Military Vehicle Preservation Association (USA), Club Veicoli Militari Storici Como, International Military Vehicle Collectors Club Sez. Italian – TO; Gothic Line of Lucca - LU, Gothic Romagna Association - FC, National Paratroopers Association of Italy, ANPI Oltrarno - FI, Club Highway Six Roma, Giuseppe and Margherita Coletta SR Association, Italian Red Cross, Defense General Staff, Italian Army.

Collaborations with other military entities

2006 Air War School (FI), 2007 Bandini Barracks – 186th RGT Paratroopers Folgore (SI), 2008 Historical Museum of the Military Motorization of Cecchignola (RM), 2008 Historical Museum of the Air Force (RM), Army Non-Commissioned Officers School (VT), 2010 Parachuting Training Center (PI), 2011 Predieri Barracks (FI), 2008 Villafranca Military Airport (VR), 2012 Perotti Barracks (FI), 2010 “Gamerra” della Folgore Barracks (PI), 2013 3rd Wing of Villafranca (VR), 2015 Ministry of Defense, 2016 Salomone Barracks (PD), 51st Wing Istrana (TV).

Conventions and Memoranda of Understanding

In 2009 we signed a Convention with the Mountain Union of Mugello Municipalities (former Mugello Mountain Community) for the recovery and conservation of the Gothic Line artefacts present in the area.

From 2011 I am the Memorandum of Understanding between Gotica Toscana onlus and the Italian Society of Geography and Military Geology (SIGGMI) for the El Alamein Project and the Convention with the Municipality of Scarperia for the management of the property which has become the "Documentation and Historical Research Centre” by Gotica Toscana onlus. In 2012 we signed a Agreement with the “Military Vehicle Preservation Association (USA), one of the largest military vehicle conservation associations, becoming their reference center for Italy and Europe.

The activities of the Tuscan Gothic Association aps.

There is now no doubt that the community and administrations are increasingly interested in the period of the Second World War and its consequences.

In addition to the normal requests and contacts arriving from abroad, new Italian users have been added who, organized into associations, working groups or private individuals, are reaching our information on our website in ever-increasing numbers.

Our public events, starting with those dedicated to historic military vehicles such as the “Rally of the 2 Lilies” of 2006 which affected Scarperia and Florence, "The Road of the Heart – Chianti 1944” in 2007 with Greve in Chianti and Siena and, since 2008 with “The Column of Freedom”which touched Rome, Viterbo, Florence, Verona, Mantua, Bologna, Parma have made Gotica Toscana a point of reference for organizational capacity and linguistic innovation. “The Column of Freedom, in all the editions carried out from 2008 to today, has had the support of the Defense General Staff and the recognition of the President of the Republic.

A completely different event is represented by the open-air museum "A Dive into History”, a static event dedicated to enthusiasts of historical reconstruction created in collaboration with the Union of Mountain Municipalities of Mugello and the Municipality of Scarperia. The “Dive” is a reconstructed visit to a World War II battlefield with vehicles, tanks, equipment, tents, curiosities and soldiers in motion.

Transparency - Law 124/2017

Gotica Toscana aps also undertakes to comply with what is required in terms of publication by Law 124/2017 - Annual law for the market and competition - by reporting on its website, information relating to grants, contributions, paid positions and in any case advantages cheap received in the previous year (physically collected regardless of the financial year of origin) by public administrations, being aware that failure to comply with this obligation entails the repayment of the sums to the disbursers within three months.

Contributions Received for 2022:

1. Tuscany Region – DEFR 2022 – PR 4 – Intervention 5 Tangible and intangible cultural heritage – Approval of tender “Support for historical re-enactment and reconstruction events (LR5/2012)” – DGR 55655-1-2022 € 2800.00
2. Tuscany Region – DEFR 2022 – PR 4 – Intervention 5 Tangible and intangible cultural heritage – Approval of tender “Support for historical re-enactment and reconstruction events (LR5/2012)” – DGR 55611-1-2022 € 1994.94
3. Ministry of Labor and Social Policies - Contribution €1901.14 - Devolution of 5 per 1000 of personal income taxes for the years 2020/2021
4. Municipality of Scarperia contribution €3000.00 for "A Dive into History" 2022 edition
5. Tuscany Region – Tuscan Regional Council DD 22317-21 Support for historical re-enactment events – €500.00
6. Notice for culture fund DM 451 2020 MEF – 3241.49
7. Tuscany Region – Tuscan Regional Council DD 22317-2021 DEFR 2021 PR 4 – €9500.00

Contributions Received for 2021:

1. Scarperia and San Piero Municipality Contribution €800.00 Cultural Contributions
2. Tuscany Region – DEFR 2020 – PR 4 – Intervention 5 Tangible and intangible cultural heritage – Approval of tender “Support for historical re-enactment and reconstruction events (LR5/2012)” – DGR 8330-1-2021 €3200.00
3. Ministry of Culture Ministerial Decree 26 June 2020 n.297 Museum Emergency Fund € 2097.63
4. Municipality of Cortona contribution €20,000.00 for the Column of Freedom 2021 edition
5. Umbria Region contribution €4,000.00 for the Column of Freedom 2021 edition
6. Municipality of Castiglione del Lago contribution €3,000.00 for the Column of Freedom 2021 edition
7. Contribution from the Municipality of Passignano sul Trasimeno €3,500.00 for the Column of Freedom 2021 edition
8. Municipality of Foiano contribution €500.00 for the Column of Freedom 2021 edition

Contributions received in 2020:

1. Tuscany Region – DEFR 2020 – PR 4 – Intervention 5 Tangible and intangible cultural heritage – Approval of tender “Support for historical re-enactment and reconstruction events (LR5/2012)” – DGR 1199/2020 € 4000.00
2. Municipality of Scarperia contribution €12,000 for “The Column of Freedom and “A Dive into History” 2020 edition
3. Ministry of Labor and Social Policies – Contribution €2,285.04 – Devolution of 5 per 1000 of personal income taxes
4. Tuscany Region – Contributions granted to category A – historical re-enactment and reconstruction associations, art. 3, paragraph 1, letters a) and b) Regional Law 14 February 2012, n. 5 €1,000.00

Contributions received in 2019:

1. MiBact contribution €4,980.00 for the 2018 edition of the Column of Freedom
2. Municipality of Fidenza contribution €18,000.00 for the Column of Freedom 2019 edition
3. Municipality of Mantua contribution €5,000.00 for the 2019 edition of the Column of Freedom
4. Municipality of Desenzano sul Garda contribution €5,000.00 for the Column of Freedom 2019 edition
5. Municipality of Scarperia contribution €3,500.00 for a Dive into History 2019 edition
6. Ministry of Labor and Social Policies – Contribution €1790.54 – Deduction of 5 per 1000 of personal income taxes

Contributions received in 2018:

1. Municipality of La Spezia – Contribution €20,000.00 for “The Column of Freedom” 2018 edition
2. Municipality of San Miniato – Contribution €3000.00 for “The Column of Freedom” 2018 edition
3. Municipality of Scarperia and San Piero – Contribution €1500.00 for “A Dive into History” 2018 edition
4. Municipality of Scarperia and San Piero – Contribution €1200.00 for the recovery mission of the fallen from the collective burial of Shikhovo (Kirov – Russia)
5. Regional Council of Tuscany – Contribution €1736.10 for the enhancement of Tuscan identity and local traditions
6. Ministry of Labor and Social Policies – Contribution €1708.53 – Devolution of 5 per 1000 of personal income taxes
7. Mountain Union of Mugello Municipalities – Contribution €1500 for the Territorial Museum Widespread System

The Documentation and Historical Research Centre, operational since 24 September 2011 by virtue of the agreement signed by the Municipality of Scarperia, was created to safeguard the memory of the passage of the Second World War in Tuscany. Particular attention is paid to the events which in September 1944 saw the Apennines north of Florence as protagonists. In fact, the sector between the Futa Pass and the Giogo Pass was the scene in those days of the furious attacks launched against the Gothic Line, the last fortified line of the Axis in Italy.

The Center makes numerous texts, documents and written and filmed testimonies relating to the period of interest available to visitors, scholars and school groups, also organizing excursions to the battlefield on request for a detailed explanation of the events and a visit to the original positions. Finally, the permanent displays and temporary thematic exhibitions present within the premises, the result of discoveries on the ground and of the material collected over the years by members or donated by local populations, allow those interested to familiarize themselves with the men, uniforms and materials that they were protagonists of that last, often forgotten, part of the Italian Campaign.

The temporary thematic exhibitions set up in the center's premises to date have been:

1. “The Artillery on the Gothic Line – 24/09/2011-27/05/2012”
2. “El Alamein and his boys“Thematic exhibition on the 70th anniversary – June 2012-April 2013”.
3. “The Long March” – Thematic exhibition in the year of the 70th anniversary of the Russian Campaign October 2013 – September 2014
4. “August 1944 – Free Florence!” Thematic exhibition in the year of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Florence Artifacts, uniforms and photographs 70 years after the Liberation from 20 September 2014

Since June 2016, the museum's layout has been completely renewed, focusing the various sections of the exhibition on the operations of the breakthrough of the Gothic Line on the theme of "The Battle of Monte Altuzzo”.

The Center's mission is to give everyone the opportunity to remember the months that preceded the Liberation of our country, precursors to the arrival of Democracy and the return of Freedom to Italy. The spectacular nature of the materials on display, in fact, is in no way intended to exalt the grandeur of modern war but, rather, to bring as many people as possible closer to reflection and awareness that remembering those distant times today, and above all trying to understand them historically, it is the first step to take so as not to have to relive its tragedies, destruction and desperation.

The Center is included in the Cultural Network of the Tuscany Region – Mugello Territorial Museum System e fa parte del “North Apennines Po Valley Park – NAPV”, parco tematico sulla Seconda Guerra Mondiale dedicato alla conservazione della memoria dell’ultima fase della Campagna d’Italia. Per molti la Campagna d’Italia termina con la Liberazione di Roma quasi concomitante con lo Sbarco in Normandia facendone un periodo storico molto spesso dimenticato. Il NAPV è nato grazie alla collaborazione tra Gotica Toscana aps, il Museo della Seconda Guerra Mondiale del Fiume Po di Felonica (MN), il Museo Memoriale della Libertà di San Lazzaro di Savena (BO) e il Museo Winter Line di Livergnano (BO). Nel 2016 si è aggiunto il  Museo Rover Joe di Fidenza (PR). Mutua il nome da quello che gli Alleati diedero alle zone di operazioni che, da fine 1944, caratterizzarono l’ultima parte della guerra tra la Linea Gotica e la Pianura Padana: “North Apennines” e “Po Valley” appunto.

La costituzione del NAPV ha dato vita a una rete nazionale di istituzioni museali e di ricerca storica dedicata allo sviluppo di percorsi assistiti di turismo storico-culturale rivolti ad un pubblico nazionale e internazionale. Ogni punto espositivo offre a studiosi, ricercatori, appassionati, visitatori, gruppi e scolaresche la possibilità di approfondire la conoscenza degli eventi che caratterizzarono quei giorni lontani attraverso la consultazione di libri, documenti e testimonianze filmate. Numerose ambientazioni e cimeli, infine, consentono di familiarizzare con gli uomini e i materiali che scrissero quella parte di Storia.

Il progetto “Orizzonti di liberta – II North Apennines Po Valley Park” ha ricevuto da parte del MIBAC l’encomio per l’azione svolta ai fini della valorizzazione del paesaggio italiano nell’ambito del PREMIO del PAESAGGIO 2014· 2015 del CONSIGUO D’EUROPA.

Tutte queste attività si inseriscono perfettamente nel contesto turistico-culturale della zona con visite di famiglie di veterani stranieri, associazioni d’Arma e turismo didattico che uniscono la visita storica alle tradizionali bellezze paesaggistiche ed architettoniche del Mugello e della Toscana in genere. Buoni i rapporti con le strutture recettive e le associazioni di volontariato che dai nostri eventi ed attività traggono vantaggio economico. La buona gestione delle attività, oculata nelle risorse e misurata nelle scelte delicate visto il tema trattato, e l’ottima accoglienza della proposta culturale è confermata dal riscontro avuto sui media nazionali e sulle riviste internazionali specializzate come l’americana “Army Motors” e l’Inglese “Windscreen”.