Special Events

Major De Bernardi had already visited Torricella, by plane, on September 8, 1922, for the inauguration of the Monument to the Fallen and the Pineta (Pinegrove Park).

That day he left from Ciampino Airport in Rome in a biplane, together with Gigi Mancini, our illustrious Torricellan native.  After numerous circles at low altitude over Torricella, on a windy day, they landed on a small field that had been prepared in the Fonte Nuova locality, behind the cemetery, on land owned by Pietro Testa. Gigi Mancini was the pilot and De Bernardi the co-pilot. They took off from there a few days later, in the presence of a curious and enthusiastic crowd. A certain Cavalier Vincenzo Melocchi filmed this whole event.

Later the film was shown many times in Torricella, especially at school and before films at the cinema. It was also sent to America and shown to our emigrants to collect funds for the PRO Monument Committee. On July 29, 1928, Major De Bernardi returned to Torricella because he was invited to a friend’s wedding, the notary Umberto Testa.  In the group photo, the major is the one in the center with a white uniform.

The notary Don Peppe Pugliese is on the major’s right, and Don Michele Persichetti, surgeon and president of the Province of Chieti, is on his left; just above Don Peppe Pugliese is Gigi Mancini. The third to De Bernardi’s left, with the fez and the uniform of the Fascist hierarchy, is Camillo D’Annunzio, at the time political secretary of the National Fascist Party. 

“Minco” Martinelli is on his left, brother of the carpenter Edoardo Martinelli. Judge Carlo Materazzo, at the time magistrate of Torricella, is directly behind De Bernardi. To the right of Materazzo, after Gigi Mancini, is Antonio D’Annunzio, father of Camillo and husband of the school teacher Mariannina Porreca. To the right of the notary Pugliese is Nicola Di Sangro di capè with a bow tie, and to his right, Vincenzo de Petra, relative of the De Stefanis family. Right below Nicola Di Sangro is Umberto Testa with a black shirt and his arms at his waist.

His brother, Carminino Testa, is further below with a hand on his neck, knickerbocker trousers and bands around his legs. The notary Umberto Testa married Teresa D’Annunzio, the sister of Camillo and daughter of Antonio, both mentioned above.  On the “Memories” page there is an anecdote the major tells to the Ficca family during the wedding celebration.

Album: Judith Bass, figlia di (daugher of) Frank Ficca 

1949

The visit of those in charge of war damage reconstruction.

Minister Giolitti on the left with grey hair, Mayor Antonio Teti, Minister Spataro, Deputy Natali. In the background the “Coste” neighborhood.

Album: Federico Teti.

1951

The inauguration of public housing on Via Michele Persichetti.

From the left, General Director of Postal Services Nicola Di Guglielmo (Ugo Minniti’s grandfather, Minister of Postal Services Spataro, Mayor of Torricella from 1946 to 1951 Antonio Teti; the fourth person is unknown. In the background between the mayor and minister, Nicola di Sangro di capè.

16 Ottobre (October) 1952

Prefect Caso visits the works of post-war reconstruction.

In the front row, the first is not known, the second is Town Secretary Guido Di Renzo, the third is Nicola Rotondo, the fourth is unknown, the fifth is Nicola Di Sangro, the sixth is Prefect Caso, the seventh is Don Domenico Testa, then Antonio Manzi and Town Policeman Luigi Di Iorio. Between Prefect Caso and the mayor, there is Camillo Di Renzo di macarullo. Between the mayor and Antonio Manzi, there is Vincenzo Antrilli.

Album: Gianni Testa

1954

Commemorazione della Festa della Liberazione del 4 Novembre.

Commemoration of the Feast of Liberation on the 4th of November.

Il bambino all’inizio a sinistra è (The boy on the very left is) Camillo Piccoli, poi c’è (then) Antonio Porreca di catielle, in secondo piano (in the background) Antonio Teti di faccetta nera, con la maglia a scacchi è (with the checkered sweater) Carmine Di Marino di quaranta, in secondo piano con i baffi è (in the background with the moustache) Vincenzo Di Paolo di siddere, con l’impermeabile bianco è (with the white raincoat)

Ermanno Passalacqua, con il cappello e l’impermeabile scuro è (with the hat and dark raincoat) Peppino Vitacolonna di crisante, con la giacca e senza cappello (with the jacket and no hat) Domenico Piccone de la penne, prima del maresciallo c’è (before the police marshall) Mariano D’Ulisse di ndrè, poi c’è il maresciallo dei carabinieri (then Police Marshall) Silla, accanto con il bastone (next to him with the cane)

Umberto Teti di scarapielle, poi c’è (then) Nicola Di Sangro di capè, poi ci sono due signori con il cappello (then there are 2 men with hats), quello più alto, il primo, non si conosce (the first with the hat is unknown), quello più basso è il preside della scuola media (the shorter one is Middle School Principal) Iudice, poi con la coppola è (then with the cap) Antonio Di Cino di fiorenze, per finire (and at the end) Domenico Di Fabrizio di tuppo.

                                                                                       Album: Giovanni Monrado

1961

Inauguration of the Tower to the Civilian Victims of WWII.

The monument was conceived and realized by Don Attilio Calabrese.

Album: Maria Grazia Rotondo

10 Ottobre (October) 1967

Inaugurazione del Monumento all’alpino d’Abruzzo sul Colle dell’Irco

Inauguration of the Monument to the Alpine Corps of Abruzzo on Irco Hill.

Album: Maria D’Ulisse

 1968

Children’s Festival

Anna Matilde Di Lullo Anna Maria di diadat’, Idamaria Piccone, Giovina Ottobrini, Don Fancesco Di Pasqua, Giuseppina D’Ulisse, Maria Laura Porreca, Maria Palizzi, ?, Elisabetta Di Paolo, Giuliana Di Renzo, e all’estrema destra si intravede (and on the far right a glimpse of) Raffaele Penna.

Album: Enzo Di Martino

Children’s Festival

The first girl lived behing the gasoline station. The second most likely is the sister of Gabriele who played the organ and accordion; they live in Chieti and have a house in the Madonnina area of Torricella. Then, Maria Teresa, daughter of Raffaele, who had a fruit shop in town, and Clelia Di Martino.

Album: Enzo Di Martino

Late 1960s

Children’s Festival

Clelia Di Martino, Lelio Porreca, Claudio Porreca, don Francesco Di Pasqua

Album: Enzo Di Martino

?, Claudio Porreca, Clelia Di Martino, Marco Porreca, ?, …. Sambuco, ?

 1970

One of the first Children’s Festivals, held the first part of January in the Onarmo Theater. A group photo with the organizers and the small orchestra that accompanied the young singers.

Da sinistra in piedi (Standing from the left): Giacomino di (of) Fallascoso, Gianni Testa, Ugo Taddeo, Pietro Ottobrini, Mimmo Rotondo, i due fratelli (two brothers) D’Annunzio, Don Francesco Di Pasqua

Seduti (Sitting): Raffaele Penna, Antonio Piccoli, Antonio Angelucci

Seduto per terra (Sitting on the floor): Antonio Martinella

Album: Antonio Piccoli

1980

Initiative to create a a friendship exchange between Annemasse in France and Torricella.

The mayor of Annemasse and Mayor Nicola Rotondo of Torricella.

Album: Maria Grazia Rotondo