Abruzzo News: 12 August 1999

The eclipse was really a historical event. All Abruzzo stopped waiting for the moon to cover (80%) the sun. The observatories (Fossacesia, Colle Leone at Mosciano, Collurania in Teramo) were full, and people populated parks and mountain tops, with a strange feeling everywhere.

TORANO - Thirty years old, but looks younger: from tonight to August 17 wine, sausages, maccheroni and fried cheese at Torano Nuovo, accompanied by music, art exhibitions and craftswork stands.

Presentation of «Guida alla conoscenza del patrimonio linguistico-culturale di un paese d'Abruzzo» by Lino ferrante, published by Tinari, at Rapino Townhall at 18 hours this evening: a thorough reconstruction of the dialect spoken in Rapino with a vocabulary, proverbs, and historical connections.

A New year's Eve on the snow at Maielletta, with fireworks and a «fiaccolata» (downhill skiers keeping a torch at midnight).

The Italian-german Association in Scurcola Marsicana and Cappelle dei Marsi has organized for tonight and next Saturday an event under the name of «Festival tra de-nu», with performances of dialect and Neapolitan plays: "Jo fitanzato" by Francesco Di Francesco, "Il Rabdomante" by Ersilia Di Girolamo, "La Livella", a sonnet by Totò, "La favola dell'aragosta" by Ersilia Di Girolamo.

ROCCA SAN GIOVANNI. Rocca San Giovanni and Chaingy, a Loira village with 2,700 inhabitants, are working towards a twinship on the basis of the many similarities. Silvino D'Ercole, Rocca's mayor, says it is a great occasion to connect with Europe.

MANOPPELLO. III Mountain festival tomorrow, organized by Pro-Loco Volto Santo, Pro-Loco Arabona, the local Gruppo Alpini and the administration of Manoppello. The program includes stands to taste typical dishes, games, a kyte competition, a calcetto tournament for youngsters, karaoke, concerts, craftswork exhibitions.