Abruzzo News: 3 December 1999

Ten centuries' history, a glorious final, then a battle against the Romans at Sentino in 259 B.C., where the Italic Confederation (Samniti, Umbrians, Etruscans and Piceni) was cancelled from the future. Gino Troli, Marches Culture Counsellor, says: «It's time to rediscover where we, Abruzzese and Marchigiani, come from. There was not only Rome: from the 14th century B.C. there were the Piceni, a great nation of warriors, artists and merchants. With this exhibition we want people from Abruzzi and Marches to realize what great heritage they have. Here, and in Etruria, Italy was born. And here Europe can find its roots too». The exhibition will stay in Frankfurt's Schirn Kunsthalle from 13 December to 6 february, then in April will reopen in three seats (Chieti, Teramo, Ascoli Piceno) to be finally united again in Rome in the late year 2000. «We want to change accepted history that only mentions Romans, Etruscans and Celts: here there was a great civilization too, able to leave us the Guerriero di Capestrano, jewels and weapons, great ship builders, farmers and shepherds. Why are we going to Frankfurt? Because the Piceni went there too»

Sandro Visca is a very shy artist but now was compelled to come into the open. "Abruzzi: l'arte del far cucina", the book he illustrated, has been presented yesterday by professor Alessandro Clementi, a historian, expert gastronomist and a lover of beauty. The book is an extremely refined graphic achievement by publisher Gte.

Padre Heinrich Pfeiffer has been studying the holy veil for decades, and his results have greatly added to the prestige of Manoppello, now a great religious destination. The story is that the veil was used to wipe blood from Christ's face on his abscent of the Calvary. The ceremony for the honorary citizenship will be held in the municipality at 17.30, and after that padre Pfeiffer will celebrate a Mass in the Sanctuary.