Tamburino

Long frequented as a transit point, crossed by various connecting routes between Fiesole, Florence, and Romagna, Monte Giovi has played a central role in the daily life of the region. Over the centuries, it has witnessed the passage of merchants, pilgrims, and travelers, but it has also been a significant protagonist in our more recent history, serving as the headquarters of the partisan brigades during the Second World War. The small village of Tamburino, located near the summit of Monte Giovi, has documented origins dating back to the late 15th century. It initially emerged as a hospice for travelers and pilgrims, at a crucial point of passage for communications between central and northern Italy. As time passed, in the 18th century, the village transformed into a farming complex, marking an important stage in its evolution over the centuries. During the period of the Second World War, Monte Giovi was the scene of dramatic events that marked the peak of its historical significance. In Tamburino, near the summit, the Germans had set up a prisoner of war camp. When, on September 8, 1943, Italy's armistice with the Allies marked the end of hostilities, the camp housed around 100 prisoners of war from various nationalities. Suddenly, these men found themselves without guards, food, or clothing, at the mercy of events. The lack of an authority to keep them under control favored the emergence of a new form of resistance. The prisoners, deprived of everything, not only faced the harsh reality of the conflict but also the uncertainty of the future. And in this, they were helped and welcomed by the local populations, although poor and suffering. Meanwhile, the partisan forces operating in those lands began to interact with the prisoners, creating bonds of solidarity and mutual aid. The mountain village of Tamburino, a symbol of resistance and struggle, became one of the emblematic places where the destinies of prisoners and fighters intertwined, protagonists of a battle not only for military liberation but also for human and civil freedom.

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