The Column of Freedom 2017

23-25 April 2017

Program rev.11 – updated on 21 April 2017
Added details of the lunch in San Benedetto Po
Added suggestions for visits to the Abbey of San Benedetto in Polirone.

Program rev.10 – updated on 19 April 2017
Added DOWNLOADABLE ROUTES IN PDF.

Program rev.09 – updated on 16 April 2017
Added gym.

Program rev.08 – updated on 15 April 2017 – Added historical notes and updated partner venues on 24 April

Program rev.07 – updated on April 13, 2017 – Affiliated locations added on April 24

Program rev.06 – updated on 09 April 2017 – Added details for 22 and 23 April

Program rev.05 – updated on 08 April 2017 – Registrations closed.

Program rev.04 – updated on 02 April 2017 – Route updated.

Program rev.03 – updated on 28 March 2017 – Route change on 23 April.

Program rev.02 – updated on 16 March 2017 – Hotel Residence WHITE PALACE complete

Program rev.01 – updated on 4 March 2017 – added Hotel and registration form

Program rev.00 – updated on 26 February 2017

North Apennines Po Valley Park

organize

an idea of

In collaboration with (updated 03/22/2017)

 92nd Buffalo Association – Highway Six – Rover Joe – Traces of History – Club Historica – Gotica Romagna – Historical Group 2194 – National Federation of WW2 Re-enactors – Old Ironsides 1st Armored Division – FEB Group.

Sponsoring bodies (updated to 12/04/2017)

With the support of (updated 04/09/2017)

PREMISE

Time has come; for almost 10 years now the word "Colonna" has taken on a character of its own. And we, who carry its spirit around in the remaining months of the year, know well that in many parts of Italy, the Column of Freedom represents a point of reference..

As good Passionists, however, we have the desire to bring it, with simplicity and sometimes with naivety, even to areas of Italy where there are those who, with superiority and arrogance, think they are above the parties. If we look at the event from a tourist and economic point of view, it is certainly a resource for the movement it creates; it cannot be thought that in order to protect certain balances, a citizen can be deprived of admiring, once in many years, a spectacle that costs citizens nothing and which, on the contrary, brings wealth to the areas it touches. In a historical moment like this, those with collective responsibilities must seize every opportunity to culturally and economically elevate the territory they administer.

The "Column of Freedom", due to the values it represents, is far from any political ideology; it is a history book in 3 dimensions. We will never forget the inspiring values of the event which are Peace, Democracy, Family and Work, often threatened, which are accompanied by a passion rooted in each of us for historic vehicles, their restoration, functioning and conservation.

The event, now known almost all over the world, among the thousand difficulties that arise during the organization of each edition, this time too will touch two cities never touched before, historical, central places, which will not spare us those genuine emotions to be together and enjoy a unique passion. This year too, by no means a given, it's time to move...

Men of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers advance in a Sherman near Ferrara, 22 April 1945
Men of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers are carried forward on Sherman tanks near Ferrara, 22 April 1945.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1945© IWM (NA 24365)

Historical notes 2017 edition

GENERAL PROGRAM OF THE EVENT

Updated April 19, 2017

Return route to Cento on 25 April 2017
Attention – NOT part of the event

April 25th afternoon Felonica-Pieve Di Cento

Saturday 22 April 2017:

One Hundred (FE)

Piazza del Guercino: 6.30pm – 10.30pm 40s dance party with live music with the “B-24 Liberator little big band” group, exhibition of armored and wheeled vehicles, free dinner in the streets of the town.

Free participation in 1940s uniform or civilian dress.
Miss Pin-Up Competition

Miss Pin Up competition rules

1) All women can participate without age limits.
2) Free registration in the afternoon in Cento at the organization's gazebo
3) They will be judged by industry experts based on uniform/dress, makeup and hairstyle
4) Awarding of the top 3 classified with prizes offered by Urban Art.

Sunday 23 April 2017:

One Hundred (FE)
8.30 am – departure from Via Guercino in Cento and transit from Bevilacqua, Palata Pepoli, Camposanto
9.45 am – stop in San Felice sul Panaro in Piazza Piva
10.30 am – departure with transit from Medolla, Cavezzo, Concordia sulla Secchia, Moglia
12.30 pm – arrival in San Benedetto Po in Piazza Folengo Teofilo and vehicle display – lunch stop

12.30 – First lunch shift in the cloister of the Abbey of San Benedetto in Polirone

2.00pm – Second lunch shift in the cloister of the Abbey of San Benedetto in Polirone

Abbey of San Benedetto in Polirone

The monastery of San Benedetto in Polirone was founded in the year 1007 by Tedaldo of Canossa, grandfather of the famous Countess Matilde on an island located between the rivers Po and the Lirone. With his foundation Tedaldo aimed to control, not only spiritually, the entire territory and to increase its productivity, above all by guaranteeing navigation on the river. Thanks to the constant donations of the Canossa family, in particular of Countess Matilde, the monastery became one of the most important in Europe and was called The Montecassino of the North. After the Napoleonic suppression, the rooms of the monastic complex were used for centuries with different functions; what can be seen today is the result of a patient restoration work that allowed the recovery of all the characteristic spaces of the monastery. The heart of the monastery is the abbey church, surrounded by three cloisters, the monastic refectory and the sixteenth-century cellars. The upper part of the cloisters, which once housed the monastery's dormitories, is occupied by the Polarmoniano Civic Museum, the most important ethnographic museum in Lombardy.

Abbey of San Benedetto in Polirone

Menu
THE RUSTIC CORNER
Variety of artisanal Focaccias at the discretion of the Chef
Grana Padano flakes aged 24 months
Gardener, Mantua mustards and jams
FIRST MEAT AT THE TABLE...
Risotto creamed with salamella
SECONDS OF MEAT AT THE TABLE…
Stefani capon with delicate mustard sauce, celery, raisins and toasted pine nuts
DESSERTS AT THE BUFFET…
Artisan Sbrisolona
Crumble with Valhrona Chocolate and Pistachios

4.00 pm – departure and transit from Mirasole, Quingentole, Pieve di Coriano
4.50 pm – stop in Revere in Corso Italia
5.30 pm – departure and transit from Villa Poma, Poggio Rusco, Tarragon, Malcantone, Pilastri, Burana, Bondeno, Santa Bianca
7.00 pm – arrival in Casumaro, dinner in the Don Alfredo Parish Multipurpose Hall

Menu
Rigatoni with traditional ragù (mixed beef/pork sausage)
Mixed grilled pork (rib, sausage, coppone, bacon)
French fries

9.30 pm – departure for Cento

Monday 24 April 2017:

One Hundred (FE)
9.00 am – departure from Via Guercino in Cento and transit through Corporeno, Sant'Agostino, Mirabello, Poggio Renatico, Chiesuol del Fosso
11.30 am – entry into Ferrara from Porta Romana, vehicle parade in Via XX Settembre, Via Mayr, Corso Porta Reno, Corso Martiri della Libertà and stop in Piazza Castello with display of historic vehicles

Free lunch

The ASCOM and FIPE affiliated businesses listed offer favorable conditions
The premises participating in the initiative will also be visible on the Ascom Confcommercio Ferrara institutional website: www.ascomfe.it

• Bar Pasticceria Duca D'este – Piazzetta del Castello 22 – 44121 Ferrara – granting people in military uniform a 10% discount on the products/services offered.
• Bar Pastry Restaurant Leon D'oro – Piazza della Cattedrale 8 – 44121 FErrara – giving people in military uniform a 10% discount on the products/services offered and/or typical Ferrara menu dedicated to the event.
• Tiffany Bar Restaurant – Piazza Municipale 24, 44121 – Ferrara (FE) - giving people in military uniform a 10% discount on the products/services offered.
• Cusina e Butega Restaurant – Corso Porta Reno, 28 – 44121 Ferrara – granting people in military uniform a 10% discount on the products/services offered.
• Locanda 22 – Piazza della Repubblica 11 – 44121 Ferrara – granting people in military uniform a 10% discount on the products/services offered.

5.00 pm – departure and transit from Porotto, Vigarano Pieve, Ponte Rodoni, Bondeno, Santa Bianca, Casumaro, Pilastrello
7.00 pm – arrival in Pieve di Cento, dinner at the Grand Hotel Bologna

Tuesday 25 April 2017:

One Hundred (FE)
9.00 am – departure from Via Guercino in Cento and transit through Renazzo, Alberone, Finale Emilia, Gavello, Pilastri, Malcantone, Santa Croce
10.45 am – arrival in Sermide and then Felonica for lunch stop and visit to the Museum of the Second World War on the Po River

Menu
Tirot with salami
Pilot risotto
Sbrisolona Mantovana
Mantua donut

4.00 pm – departure for Quatrelle, Bondeno, Santa Bianca, Casumaro, Pilastrello
6.00 pm – arrival in Cento

Men of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers with the support of some Achilles 17pdr tank destroyers parked near Ferrara waiting to advance, 22 April 1945
Men of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, supported by Achilles 17pdr tank destroyers, wait to go forward near Ferrara, 22 April 1945.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1945© IWM (NA 24363)