{"id":16365,"date":"2025-12-03T11:38:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/?p=16365"},"modified":"2025-12-21T14:09:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T13:09:45","slug":"basco-amaranto-folgore-fregio-paracadutisti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/amaranth-beret-folgore-paratrooper-frieze\/","title":{"rendered":"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <strong>10 June 1967<\/strong> represents a watershed date for the <a href=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/history-of-the-folgore\/\">History of the Italian Parachutists<\/a>. On that day the <strong>Parachute Brigade<\/strong> received authorisation to use the name <strong>'Thunderbolt'<\/strong>. A direct tribute to the <strong>Parachute Division Folgore<\/strong>who had written one of the most glorious pages of our military history in the sands of <a href=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/the-battle-of-el-alamein\/\">El Alamein<\/a> in 1942.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But tradition does not stop at names. The identity of a department also passes through the <strong>visual symbols<\/strong> representing it, and it was at that time that two fundamental elements were introduced, which every Italian paratrooper still wears with great pride today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>amaranth beret<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>metal frieze with parachute and dagger<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Basco Amaranto: the headgear of those who attack from the sky<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adoption of the Basque Amaranth<\/strong> - occurred on <strong>1 July 1967 in San Rossore<\/strong>, in <strong>province of Pisa<\/strong>at the end of the airdrop exercise <strong>'Red Eagle'<\/strong> - <strong>was not a random choice<\/strong>. In line with a <strong>established international tradition<\/strong>who wants the <strong>instantly recognisable elite troops<\/strong> by the colour of one's headgear, even <strong>Italy chose a distinctive colour for its Paratroopers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1-300x191.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1-1024x651.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1-768x488.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1-18x12.jpg.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"763\" src=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1.jpg\" alt=\"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore - brigadefolgore.net\" class=\"wp-image-16837 webpexpress-processed\" title=\"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore - brigadefolgore.net\" srcset=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1-1024x651.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1-768x488.jpg 768w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ligobbi-saragat-1-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Rossore, Pisa, 1 July 1967: President of the Republic Giuseppe Saragat presents the Basco Amaranto to the Commander of Folgore, General Alberto Li Gobbi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>amaranth beret<\/strong>already the symbol of British air forces and other special forces around the world, became the hallmark of the Italian Paras. Not a simple uniform element, but a <strong>value symbol<\/strong>selection, hard training and belonging to a <strong>brotherhood that extends beyond time and beyond generations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/brigatafolgore.net-storia-del-basco-amaranto-e-del-fregio-della-folgore-basco-amaranto-1.jpg\" alt=\"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore - brigadefolgore.net\" class=\"wp-image-16824\" title=\"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore - brigadefolgore.net\" srcset=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/brigatafolgore.net-storia-del-basco-amaranto-e-del-fregio-della-folgore-basco-amaranto-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/brigatafolgore.net-storia-del-basco-amaranto-e-del-fregio-della-folgore-basco-amaranto-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/brigatafolgore.net-storia-del-basco-amaranto-e-del-fregio-della-folgore-basco-amaranto-1-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/brigatafolgore.net-storia-del-basco-amaranto-e-del-fregio-della-folgore-basco-amaranto-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/brigatafolgore.net-storia-del-basco-amaranto-e-del-fregio-della-folgore-basco-amaranto-1-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The amaranth beret is a distinctive and strongly identifying symbol of the Italian Paratroopers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The frieze: designed by the wearer of the beret<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In that context of change<\/strong>a young paratrooper serving with the <strong>Pisa 'Gamerra' Barracks Command Company<\/strong>, <strong>Giulio Renzo Sarrica<\/strong>he was commissioned to <strong>designing the new frieze for the Basco Amaranto<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The choice did not fall on just any designer, but on a <strong>department's military<\/strong>a Par\u00e0, an 'insider', who knew from the inside the spirit and meaning of what was to be represented. The result was a work <strong>technical, precise and symbolically powerful<\/strong>based on a geometric structure <strong>built from the circle<\/strong>testimony to the <strong>discipline, harmony and centrality<\/strong> of the paratrooper in the Armed Forces structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>frieze<\/strong>designed for realisation in <strong>metal die-casting<\/strong>, shows a <strong>open parachute<\/strong> with perfectly symmetrical sails, in the centre of which is a <strong>vertical dagger<\/strong> - symbol of readiness, determination and offensive strength. A design that, in a few strokes, succeeds in condensing the essence of the paratrooper: a man of assault, but also a soldier who is precise, determined and ready to operate in complex conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project, realised in 1967 by Sarrica, is fully part of the <strong>iconographic history of the Folgore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-1024x683.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-300x200.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-768x512.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-18x12.jpg.webp 18w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco.jpg.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore - brigadefolgore.net\" class=\"wp-image-16826 webpexpress-processed\" title=\"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore - brigadefolgore.net\" srcset=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giulio-sarrica-basco.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Above left, the original drawings of the project made by Giulio Sarrica in 1967.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 'ward flea': a heartfelt and respected variant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In subsequent years, a <strong>variant<\/strong>: the frieze with <strong>the addition of the 'flea<\/strong>or the <strong>department-specific symbol<\/strong> of membership (e.g. 183rd, 186th, 187th for Regiments, and 2nd, 5th, etc. for Battalions) entered <strong>within the original design<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This version is<strong> worn with equal pride<\/strong>as it allows the Paras to <strong>make one's own history and journey visible within the Folgore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-1024x683.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-300x200.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-768x512.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-18x12.jpg.webp 18w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore.jpg.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore - brigadefolgore.net\" class=\"wp-image-16823 webpexpress-processed\" title=\"History of the Amaranth Basque and the Frieze of the Folgore - brigadefolgore.net\" srcset=\"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/brigatafolgore.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/basco-5-folgore.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The ward flea frieze allows the Paras to make their own history and journey visible within the Folgore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It is not just metal: it is belonging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The amaranth beret and frieze are not accessories. They are <strong>honour, sacrifice, brotherhood, bravery<\/strong>. They represent hours and days of training, of launches, of tests passed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wearing them does not only mean belonging to an elite corps: it means wearing <strong>on our heads and in our hearts the history of those who have gone before us<\/strong>of those who also immolated themselves<strong> to the ultimate sacrifice for Italy and with the Folgore in his heart<\/strong>and at the same time assume the <strong>moral responsibility to honour that past every day<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The frieze<\/strong> conceived by <strong>Parachutist Giulio Sarrica<\/strong> at <strong>1967<\/strong> is a <strong>extraordinary example of military art<\/strong> e <strong>tradition of the Folgore<\/strong>a work capable of encapsulating, in a <strong>metal symbol<\/strong>, l'<strong>soul of the Folgore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>10 June 1967 represents a watershed date in the history of the Italian Parachutists. On that day, the Parachute Brigade received authorisation to bear the name 'Folgore'. A direct tribute to the Folgore Parachute Division, which had written one of the most glorious pages of our military history in the sands of El Alamein in 1942. But the [...]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2893],"tags":[817,53,818],"sgg_keywords":[],"class_list":["post-16365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aviotruppe","tag-bascoamaranto","tag-folgore","tag-giuliosarrica"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16365"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16365\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16365"},{"taxonomy":"sgg_keywords","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sgg_keywords?post=16365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}