by InTrieste
Italy commemorates Liberation Day, known locally as Festa della Liberazione, with a nationwide public holiday annually on April 25. The day witnesses the closure of schools, public offices, and most businesses, with vibrant parades organized across the nation by ANPI, Italy’s partisan association dedicated to preserving the memory of the Resistance movement against Fascism.
The event serves as a poignant reminder of the downfall of the Fascist regime and the Nazi occupation during World War II, alongside the triumph of Italy’s Resistance movement, comprising brave partisans who fiercely opposed the oppressive regime.
Established in 1943, the partigiani, drawn from diverse backgrounds including workers, farmers, students, and intellectuals, formed a cohesive network of anti-Fascist activists spanning Italy. United in armed resistance, they waged a valiant struggle against the Nazi occupation and the Fascist regime, transforming their fight into both a war of liberation and a civil war.
Liberation Day recalls the pivotal moment in 1945 when a nationwide radio broadcast, issued by the National Liberation Committee of Upper Italy (CLNAI), spearheaded by partisan and future Italian president Sandro Pertini, catalyzed a popular uprising and general strike against the Nazi occupation and the Fascist regime. This historic announcement ultimately led to the capture and execution of Fascist leader Benito Mussolini three days later.
The initial uprisings and liberations commenced in Bologna on April 21, 1945, followed by Genoa two days later, then Milan on April 25, and finally Turin and Venice on April 28. By May 1, all of northern Italy had been liberated, thanks to the relentless advance of Allied forces, prompting the official surrender of German occupying forces on May 2.
Liberation Day marks a monumental turning point in Italy’s narrative, laying the groundwork for the pivotal referendum on June 2, 1946, where Italians decisively opted for a republic, rejecting the monarchy tarnished by its association with the war and subsequent exile of its members.
Despite its national significance, Liberation Day remains a contentious occasion in Italy, subject to annual criticism from right-wing politicians who oppose its celebration.
The annual commemoration on April 25 includes solemn ceremonies featuring the laying of wreaths at monuments and tombstones honoring the courageous men and women who fought in the Resistance, accompanied by the stirring strains of “Bella Ciao,” the anthem of the anti-Fascist resistance. Originally a 19th-century Italian protest folk song lamenting the harsh conditions of mondina workers in northern Italy’s rice fields, “Bella Ciao” was adapted in the 1940s to narrate the tale of a young man bidding farewell to his beloved to join the Italian partisans.
In a gesture of cultural appreciation, State museums and archaeological sites across Italy, including those in Rome, will open their doors free of charge on April 25 for the second consecutive year, as confirmed by Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano.
With Liberation Day falling on a Thursday in 2024, many Italians are expected to capitalize on the occasion, enjoying an extended weekend by taking Friday, April 26 off, in what is locally termed a “ponte” (bridge).
