Beyond the rock: the journey continues in Exilles

On Saturday, October 17, at 3:00 PM, the Ex-Chapel of the Fort will host *OLTRE LA ROCCIA: IL CAMMINO CONTINUA* ("Beyond the Rock: The Journey Continues"). This is the concluding event of a project launched to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the start of construction on the *Pertus* of Colombano Romean, organized by the Municipality of Exilles in collaboration with ArTeMuDa. ADMISSION IS FREE.

The event will not only be an opportunity to review the initiatives carried out during 2026 but, above all, to look beyond the anniversary and reflect on the relationship between Alpine communities, the local area, and the changing mountain landscape, fostering a dialogue that connects history, culture, the environment, and new generations.

The day will begin at 3:00 PM with the official stamping ceremony for a special *Poste Italiane* philatelic cancellation mark, created to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the start of work on the *Pertus* of Colombano Romean. The cancellation mark will be available throughout the event, until 7:00 PM. This will be followed by welcome remarks from officials and partners of the "Colombano 500" project.

At 3:30 PM, Roberto Micali and Renato Sibille will open the afternoon session by retracing the history of the *Pertus* and the journey of the "Colombano 500" project, providing an overview of the events held in previous months. Discussion will also cover the inclusion of the *Pertus* in the *FAI* (National Trust for Italy) "Luoghi del Cuore" (Places of the Heart) list—an initiative that opens up new possibilities for promoting and raising awareness of this exceptional historical and environmental heritage. At 3:45 PM, the actors from VAN – *Verso Altre Narrazioni* (Towards Other Narratives) will present a musical reading titled "L’eco dello scalpello" (The Echo of the Chisel); through the spoken word and performance, they will transport the audience inside the mountain and into the story of Colombano Romean’s ambitious undertaking.

At 4:00 PM, writer and journalist Enrico Camanni—one of the leading contemporary voices on Alpine culture—will take the stage for a talk titled "La montagna trasformata" (The Transformed Mountain). Drawing on the history of the Pertus, Camanni will broaden the scope to examine the centuries-long transformations that have reshaped the Alpine landscape and the relationship between humanity, natural resources, and the mountains.

At 4:30 PM, the "Colombano 500" photography and writing contests will be launched; these initiatives aim to continue the story of the Pertus leading up to 2027 through images, words, and fresh perspectives.

Following a coffee break at 4:45 PM, the program resumes at 5:15 PM with a discussion titled "La montagna trasformata: un dialogo intergenerazionale" (The Transformed Mountain: An Intergenerational Dialogue). Hosted by the young team from Radio Tempo Profondo, the session will feature a conversation between Enrico Camanni and Stefano Ditella—a geologist and activist with the *Fridays for Future* movement. This meeting is designed to bridge different generations and perspectives, reflecting on the future of highland regions by looking at the transformations that have defined their past and present.

At 6:00 PM, the event shifts to a festive atmosphere with Occitan music and dancing performed by the group Parenaperde, before the day concludes at 7:30 PM.

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Exilles Fort - Exilles

Municipality of Exilles - Exilles