Monument A woman transports wood from Forca d'Acero

In front of the City Hall, stands an extraordinary sculpture entitled. “A woman carries wood from Forca d'Acero“, a stone work created by artist Fabio Rea. This sculpture was donated to the community by Carmelo Cedrone, an international trade unionist and Europeanist, to pay tribute to the strength and resilience of women of the past. The work depicts a female figure intent on carrying a bundle of wood, evoking the women who traveled miles along the ancient Via Marsicana collecting small branches and then turning them into frasconi, essential for home heating.

The statue was unveiled in the presence of Carmelo Cedrone's daughter. The latter pointed out that the sculpture is a tribute to women's emancipation, a project dear to her father's heart, who wished to honor the silent but essential work of women in rural society.

The work is a symbol of the tenacity, strength and dedication of the women of the past, who, despite difficulties and limited opportunities for emancipation, faced domestic drudgery and support work for male activities with courage and resilience. Gathering wood, one of the hardest and most strenuous activities, was a primary source of livelihood for many families and testifies to the indomitable spirit of these women.

The sculpture, with its commanding presence and profound meaning, is intended to be not only a tribute to the women of San Donato Val di Comino, but a universal reminder of the often invisible contribution of women in rural societies and the need to continue to support women's empowerment in all its forms. Carmelo Cedrone's gift and Fabio Rea's work are thus a manifesto of gratitude and recognition for all women who have worked tirelessly for the well-being of their families and communities.

In a time when women's emancipation was nonexistent, women demonstrated exceptional strength and resilience, tempered by domestic labors and support work for men's activities. The statue "A Woman Carries Wood from Forca d'Acero" is a monument that invites us to reflect on this past and to recognize the fundamental contribution of women in building communities yesterday and today.