The Alpini, (the Alpines), are the elite mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army.

Formed in 1872 they are the oldest active mountain infantry in the world.
Their original mission was to protect Italy's northern mountain border with France and Austria.

The ANA (Associazione Nazionale Alpini or National Alpini Association) is a registered society representing the "Veci" – the elder ones - or former members of the Alpini corps.

As the "Veci" see themselves as merely "on leave" rather than veterans, the ANA is colloquially known to be the 10° Alpini Regiment.

Since 1920 every year ANA organizes a national reunion the "Veci".
Hundreds of thousands of Alpini congregate with family and friends to an Italian city for a weekend in the late spring to celebrate, drink heavily and have a good time while remembering old times.

The members of ANA are always active in organizing enjoyable public entertainments, mostly related with rustic and tasty food to serve to people and...drinks, preferably red wine!

We met a group of “Veci Alpini” by the lake in Stresa;
they were actively preparing rustic mountain food, roasted chestnuts and polenta with sausages and were a bit surprised when we refused to taste their specialties, while all the Italian passersby queued to have a portion of those “delicacies”.