15
via Emilia and the territory it runs through,
from both a cultural and socio-economic
point of view?
Vittorio Ferorelli
In the United States, even
though they are a lot less ancient than ours,
the historic roads are almost always well
maintained, and this is partly due to the fact
that local communities and citizen's
associations can adopt a stretch, taking
responsibility for its up-keep. In exchange they
receive a certificate of merit and a highly
visible metal sign bearing their name along
the side of the road: this is a simple and
effective way of getting everyone involved in
safeguarding their common heritage. This
kind of initiative is not entirely absent in this
part of the world either. Alessandro Giust, an
enthusiast from San Giuliano Milanese, has
transformed his passion for Highway N. 9 into
a website for fellow devotees: contributors
can submit their own travel experiences as
well as purchasing t-shirts, sweat shirts and
caps bearing the legend “Io amo la SS9” (“I
love the SS9”) (HYPERLINK "
-
viaemilia.com"www.ss9-viaemilia.com).
Valeria Cicala
The stone paving of the
consular arterial road, which, in addition to
the via Emilia, is also identified as state
highway number 9, has absorbed the passing
of countless wagon wheels and horses’
hooves, and rerouted as the Cardo maximus
or Decumanus maximus (principle north-
south and east-west oriented main
thoroughfares in Roman town planning) of
many an ancient city centre. It has been
defaced with concrete and filth, and
superseded by the motorway, but it remains
the region’s most genuine road and
profoundly rooted in its history and traditions.
It’s the road to the seaside: the scene of so
many unforgettable post-war holidays and
where you can dance ballroom, disco and
everything in between at any time of the year.
The sea, the fog, the Apennines and the hills
that overlook it have inspired some fine
writing, fantastic images, and every kind of
music. And all this in a context of enthusiasm
for work, whether it be artistic creativity or
simple daily labour, a spirit of solidarity that
always wears a smile on its face, a warm
welcome and a sharp sense of irony that finds
its expression in the local dialects. It’s
impossible to escape the importance of this
road to the people that live here, and we
must be willing to lend a hand to those that it
sets down in our midst, not always on a
beautiful motorbike or in a big, powerful car,
but those who arrive here with little more
than a dream via much harder roads that are
more similar to the paths that were here once
too, before the via Emilia. The local culture
forms an essential part of the region’s
economic potential. While exports may
increase takings and re-launch local
businesses, it's our know-how and our ability
to preserve our skills and their roots that will
permit us to continue to travel along our road
in the future, as well as embarking on new
roads as they open further afield, thanks to a
heritage that is even older than its 2200 years.
