Italy celebrates National Unity Day on March 17 Because it was on that date, in 1861, that the country was officially unified and came into existence as a single state.
The date marks the creation of Kingdom of ItalyTherefore, it is considered the country's "birthday".
Despite its historical importance, the day of National Unity Day It is not a national holiday.. Nevertheless, it is a moment of strong symbolism and patriotism among Italians.
The birth of Italy
Before 1861, the Italian peninsula was divided into several independent states. Among them were... Kingdom of Sardinia, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Papal States.
These regions had their own governments, laws, and alliances. Borders and political control changed several times throughout the centuries.
Unification was a gradual process, known as RisorgimentoThis period occurred between 1815 and 1870 and involved wars, political alliances, and nationalist movements.
On March 17, 1861, following this process, the Kingdom of Italy was officially proclaimed.
Who led the unification?
Italian unification involved the actions of both political and military leaders.
Among the main names are Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of unified Italy, and Prime Minister Camillo di Cavour, responsible for strategic alliances in Europe.
Other important names were Giuseppe Garibaldi and Giuseppe Mazzini, who were linked to revolutionary movements.
Vittorio Emanuele II reigned until 1878. His tomb is in the Pantheon in Rome.
Capital shifts
The capital of Italy wasn't always Rome.
After unification, the first capital was TurinThen, the seat of government was transferred to Florence.
Rome only became the capital in 1871, after the final consolidation of unification.
Why isn't it a holiday?
National Unity Day is not generally a public holiday in Italy.
On special occasions, such as the 150th anniversary in 2011, the date was celebrated with a national holiday.
Normally, the country gives more prominence to June 2nd, when the birth of the Italian Republic is celebrated, following the 1946 referendum that abolished the monarchy.
Even without a public holiday, March 17th is marked by flags, events, and displays of national pride in various Italian cities.
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