From Perugia to Assisi, That March for Peace

Just about every two years since 1961, thousands have joined in an October march for peace from Perugia to Assisi (about 24 km), promoted by Aldo Capitini, philosopher who had named the march “Marcia della pace e della fratellanza tra i popoli” (“March of peace and brotherhood among peoples”).

The peace march organizers cite the number of participants at a record number of over 200,000 for 2025.

I joined the march – entitled this year “Imagine All the People” – in Santa Maria degli Angeli climbing up to Assisi, “citta’ della pace,” with exhuberant groups

Although my trek was only 5 kilometers, the memories are abundant

I’d like to share a few photos in an inadequate attempt to give you an idea…

As always, all ages joined in – and young people from all over Italy were numerous:

People of varous races, various nations….

…and various ages,….

…all linked together “living life as one”….,..

Hundreds (thousands?) of buses were parked in Perugia, in Santa Maria degli Angeli (Assisi) and other areas, bringing peace-promoters to the march from all over Italy:

…from Treviso (in the region of Veneto)…

…from Masci (in the region of Le Marche)..

…from Lanciano (in Abruzzo)…

…from Potenza (in Basilicata)….

….from Amelia (in Umbria…

…and from Valle Del Noce (also in Basilicata)…

…from the Val D’Aosta region..

…from Bologna (in Emilia Romagna)..

…from a secondary school in Olbia (Sardegna):

…and one Sardinian banner from Olbia was also in Sardinian dialect:

…and logicamente, numerous Assisi delegrations participated, including the local liceo scientifico (lyceum emphasing math and science studies)…

Banners bore various messages.

One in the colors of the peace flag mandated “Non c’e nessuna strada che porta alla pace. Pace e’ la strada.” (“No road leads to peace. Peace IS the road”):

As they approacted the Basilica di San Francesco, a small group held up a thought-provoking sign reading “Non temo la cattiveria dei malvagi ma il silenzio degli onesti” (“I do not fear the evil of the wicked but the silence of the honest”):

“Non c’e pace senza giustizia” (“There is not peace without justice”) another flag proclaimed:

Another banner affirmed “With war, no peace but all wish peace”:

A united, happy group bore a banner reading “Dal cielo alla terra, pace su tutte le frontiere” (“From the sky to the earth, peace at all borders”):

A few women bore a bright blue banner proposing “Se nel mondo non c’e amore, faremo un altro mondo” (“If there is not love in the world, we will make another world”):

Teen-agers carried a sign they’d painted in the colors of the peace flag, affirming “La pace e’ un diritto di tutti” (“Peace is a right of all”):

Members of a national trade union carried proudly their union flags and their banner proclaiming “Conoscenza, Ponte di Pace” (“Knowledge, bridge of peace”):