Solferino

"Solferino es un pequeño pueblo en la provincia de Mantua, Lombardía, al norte e Italia, a unos 10 kilómetros al sur del Lago de Garda. Es conocido principalmente por la Batalla de Solferino, que tuvo lugar el 24 de junio de 1859, formó parte de la Segunda Guerra Italiana de la Independencia y terminó con la captura italo-francesa de la Rocca, fortaleza que entonces estaba en manos de los austríacos. Tiene una población de 2,300 habitantes, aproximadamente. Del 23 al 28 de junio del 2009, con motivo del 150 Aniversario de esa batalla, varios eventos que reúnen a miles de voluntarios del Movimiento de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja de todo el mundo se llevaron a cabo en Solferino, con el nombre de "Celebraciones Solferino 2009"."

"Solferino is a small town and comune in the province of Mantua,Lombardy, northern Italy,approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of Lake Garda. It is best known as being closeto the site of the Battle ofSolferino on 24 June 1859, part of the Second ItalianWar of Independence. The battle ended with Italo-French capture ofthe Rocca, the fortress then in Austrian hands. The wounded in the battle werewitnessed by the Swissbusinessman Jean-HenriDunant, who had traveledto Italy to meet French emperor Napoléon IIIwith the intention of discussing difficulties in conducting business inAlgeria, at that time occupied by France. Horrified by the suffering of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield, Dunant completely abandoned the original intent of his trip and for several days he devoted himself to helping with the treatment and care for the wounded. He succeeded in organizing an overwhelming level of relief assistance by motivating the local villagers to aid without discrimination. Back in his home in Geneva, he set about a process that led to the Geneva Conventions and the establishment of the International Committee of the Red Cross by writing a book entitled A Memory of Solferino which he published with his own money in 1862 and thus initiated the process. From 23 to 28 June 2009, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the battle, a series of events gathering thousands of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement volunteers from all around the world took place in Solferino, under the name of Solferino 2009 Celebrations."