B ut weeks turned into months and months turned into years. Alberto stayed away at war for four long years. The Russian terrain was cold and full of snow and ice, as well as starvation. Only 20.000 men came back home from the 150.000 who went to Russia. The few survivors of the war have to thank the generosity of the Russian people.
Alberto, in the war was a driver. After an accident with a German truck he was forced to stop the withdrawal and ask a Ukrainian family for help. A small familymade of a father , a mother and two small kids (Giana and Jura) welcomed him in their home on a cold evening during the Russian winter. They let him in, warmed him up and gave him food. Those people were supposed to be the “enemies”, instead, they were the ones risking their lives from Stalin’s regime as they were assisting the enemy soldiers.
In an evening during the spring, at the age of 82, Albert told us his story at his home. 82 years of art, war and most of all Russia. Ukraine is for him a fountain of inspiration a resource of life and love of a land which gave him a lot. One of his two main themes for his paintings is “War pages”. These are sad pages told through his paintings. Alberto stayed with that Ukraine family for 25 days.

Together with that family he rediscovered a smile, feelings, and the desire to live again. “Liena told me that in case of danger there was a refuge underneath the floor. On February 18, 1943, the noise of a continuous bombing woke me up. The boarder was getting closer, it was better to leave. One of their nephews, Lidia, who I was friendly with, gave me a big hug before leaving. I have never forgotten that hug. Those people will always be in my hearth.
Only fifty years after, thanks to a Ukrainian friend, I managed to get in touch with Giana and Jura again. Jura eventually became a guest in my home. It has been a great feeling to be able to help the children of the person who gave life back to me”. Alberto’s existence is based on some particular features: the painting, the war, Russia. Beside the family, few other things were important in his life.
Alberto Di Feliciantonio is for Torano Nuovo the most notorious character. The man, the painter, the former soldier, the one who believed and worked most for his village, especially for the Festival of the Church. He has been president of the Pro-Loco for more than twenty years. The Festival of the Church was born, and grew and established with him.

Many managers have come out from the pro-loco, thanks to him. Invited at the Costanzo’s show, he told the story of his land, of the farm society, the wise, strong and wealthy peculiarities of his land.
He is amazing when he describes his own surroundings. “ I am from Torano, a prosperous village on the smooth hill of the Val Vibrata, in Teramo. Torano, land of good wine, particularly of the Montelpuciano d’Abruzzo, has actually been nominated capital of the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo”. He has spread this statement everywhere.
Since a kid, he loved to depict, to hatch, to copy….School’s books were for him an inspiration for his portraits. In the 30’s’, the Corriere della Sera managed to have his first painting handbook published. Then, at 35, right before Sant’Antonio’s celebration, at the traditional “focaccia”, he burned all his work. He thought he could get rid of this temptation: the painting. But it did not work. He regretted it and kept painting. On paper, cloth, oil, acrylic, and watercolors. Hundreds of paintings are shown in many exhibitions, in many houses, in many collectors’ atelier… His art, his style Makes the people from Torano proud.