News from Italy
March 17 and Italy’s Collective Memory
In Italy, the morning of March 17 is more than just a date on the calendar. This special day, known as the “Day of National Unity, the Constitution, the Anthem, and the Flag,” commemorates the shared history that began with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. It marks not only a political milestone but the birth of a collective identity.
The path to Italian unification was complex and multi-layered. From popular patriotic uprisings -such as the Five Days of Milan, the Roman Republic, and Garibaldi’s Expedition of the Thousand- to the diplomatic and military efforts of the Kingdom of Sardinia and Piedmont under the House of Savoy, every step helped shape the new state, often through violent conflict. Ultimately, thanks to the vision and determination of Camillo di Cavour, the monarchical solution prevailed, which many members of the democratic camp, including Daniele Manin and Giuseppe Garibaldi, considered the most realistic.
After the victory over Austria in 1859 and the annexation of southern Italy in 1860, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, and Victor Emmanuel II ascended the throne on March 17, 1861. This proclamation united territories that had been governed separately for centuries under a single national banner. But this day did not come by chance: it was the culmination of a long journey woven with romantic ideals, revolutionary waves, and diplomatic manoeuvres, the Risorgimento.
A Morning in Turin
The journey began in elegant Turin, at the foot of the Alps. On March 17, 1861, Victor Emmanuel II officially assumed the title “King of Italy,” and the constitutional monarchy was formally proclaimed. The words spoken that day in Parliament opened the door to a new era. This form of government lasted until the 1946 referendum, when it gave way to the Republic, granting Italy a new political identity. Today, celebrations across the country -ceremonies, concerts, cultural events- honour not just a historical decision but also the ideals and symbols that made it possible.
Walking through Turin, one sees not only baroque palaces and grand squares but also the very scene where a nation was born. Palazzo Carignano, seat of the first Italian Parliament, and the Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano document the unification process through maps, uniforms, and proclamations, conveying the romantic yet intense atmosphere of the Risorgimento.
Reggio Emilia: Birth of the Tricolour
The green, white, and red tricolour, Italy’s national symbol, was first adopted in 1797 in Reggio Emilia as the flag of the short-lived Cispadane Republic. Over time, these three colours became the emblem of the Risorgimento and of the entire Italian peninsula.
The Sala del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia is one of the historic sites where the flag was born. It tells the story of its evolution and illustrates how symbols help forge a collective identity. Green, white, and red: these colours are not merely an aesthetic combination, but the visual reflection of a nation’s long journey. Every tricolor flag flying in Italy today represents not just the state but a shared destiny, a history built through struggle and sacrifice.
Rome: Capital of Unity
Although unity was proclaimed in 1861, the process was completed over the following years, with Rome becoming the capital of the new state in 1870. At the heart of the city, the Altare della Patria — the Vittoriano — stands both as a monument to Victor Emmanuel II and as a powerful stage of national memory.
The Power of a Song
Borders alone do not hold a nation together; sometimes a melody or a verse can wield the same force. “Il Canto degli Italiani,” written in 1847 by the young poet Goffredo Mameli and set to music by Michele Novaro, became the voice of independence and unity. Sung in squares, on battlefields, and in moments of hope and resistance, it was banned during the fascist era but reinstated as the national anthem in 1946. Today, its notes echo at official ceremonies, carrying both the struggles of the past and the belief in the future.
Constitution: More Than a Document
The Constitution, also celebrated on this day, is not just a legal text. It is a common pact defining the fundamental principles of social life, rights and freedoms, and the functioning of the state. The constitutional monarchy that began in 1861 evolved into a Republic after the 1946 referendum, completing the political framework of modern Italy.
March 17 is celebrated in Italy not only to remember the past but to recognise how culture, art, and collective memory have built a nation. From the historic squares of Turin to the majestic monuments of Rome, from the stone streets of small towns to the concert halls of major cities, the same message resonates everywhere: unity lives in symbols, and symbols gain meaning when they are remembered.
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