PASSAGGI – THE WORDS OF WATER
Reflections on the Fluid Nature of Language and Human Relationships
Festival Tramontana Abruzzo Toscana 2026
Ex Convento degli Zoccolanti
Montorio al Vomano, Teramo, Italy
Saturday 7 November 2026, 10:00–13:00
This is an initiative of LEM-Italia as part of the “Creative Europe Tramontana IV” project.
The final event of the Italian Tramontana IV Festival, an itinerant cultural programme held across Tuscany and Abruzzo, took place in Montorio al Vomano on 7 November 2026. Organised by LEM-Italia with the patronage of the Municipality of Montorio al Vomano, Passaggi brought together researchers, local residents and community witnesses to explore the relationships between water, language, landscape and collective memory.
After the greetings of Fabio Altitonante, Mayor of Montorio al Vomano, the morning programme was structured around two complementary sessions.
“The Tramontana Network Yesterday and Today: Voices from the Archives” opened with an introduction to the history, European dimension and research achievements of the Tramontana projects by Renata De Rugeriis Juárez, President of LEM-Italia. Giovanni Agresti explored the connections between language, memory and water through experiences and materials from the Tramontana archives, while Silvia Pallini presented research on water-related place names and oral testimonies collected in the Teramo area.
“The Tramontana Network Today and Tomorrow: Live Voices” connected archival research with contemporary perspectives. Geologist Maurizio Rosa discussed the natural characteristics of the Vomano River and the transformations resulting from hydraulic and hydroelectric developments, bringing scientific knowledge into dialogue with local memory. The programme also included Voci d’acqua (Voices of Water), a moment dedicated to dialect poetry, readings, music and narratives inspired by the local landscape and oral heritage.
Particular attention was given to the hamlet of Altavilla, where LEM-Italia had recently conducted audiovisual interviews documenting everyday life, traditional practices and memories associated with water.
The event concluded the Italian Festival programme by reaffirming the importance of connecting archival documentation, interdisciplinary research and active community participation, while returning intangible cultural heritage to the people and territories that contributed to its preservation and transmission.