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Ponte Sfondato is a hamlet of Montopoli di Sabina, Rieti; this name derives from a natural arch on the Farfa river, originating from a particular type of erosive phenomenon.This paramount landform and its formation represent an intriguing history. The Ponte Sfondato was a unique example of geomorphosite formed by the erosion of a long rocky relief originating from the over-excavation of a recessed meander. The lithology of the relief, characterized by the presence of weakly cemented gravel with arenaceous levels, has facilitated the erosive activity of the Farfa river. It has been able to "break through" the rocky promontory causing the formation of the arch, creating a water path below. The natural arc has a high degree of instability; overtime, in fact, this particular morphotype tends to thin out and collapse.The arch was use for traffic road until 1960 when it was replace by a modern bridge and it collapsed in 1961.Ponte Sfondato is a place of geological-historical memory, representing an important site of geological-landscape interest. Because of its evolution, this site is no longer visible and it remains in the collective imagination through writings, maps, publications, paintings, and also through mentions in novels, pictures and movies.

“At war with the eagles” represents the first national event organized by the History of Geosciences Section, established in 2012 by the Italian Geological Society in order to recover and endorse the national geological culture. A century after the Italian intervention in the First World War, the meeting focuses on the role of geologists and cartographers on the alpine fronts, before, during and after hostilities. This short note briefly describes the history and purposes of the Geoitaliani project that aims to revitalize the importance of geology in the past as a basis for the future development of our Nation and the human journey on Planet Earth

In the Archive of the Geological Survey of Italy-ISPRA Library, 24 hand-colored and unpublished geological maps of the KKGR Geologische Spezialkarte were recently discovered. These maps cover the NE sector of Italy and concern the territories annexed by Italy at the end of the First World War. The comparative analysis carried out with the Austrian original cartographic maps, confirms that the handwritten maps were compiled using the surveys made between 1854 and 1900. The acquisition of cartographic material in the years immediately following the conflict, arising from the obligations of the peace treaty, demonstrates a long-term cooperation between the Geological Survey of Austria and the Geological Survey of Italy, going deeply beyond the political divisions.