Republic Day in Italy

Republic Day, also known as Festa della Repubblica in Italian (Festival of the Republic), is a national holiday in Italy on June 2 each year. It celebrates the day when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy in 1946 so their country could become a republic.

The Corazzieri (Italian president's guards) prepare for a Republic Day parade in Italy.

©iStockphoto.com/PaoloGaetano

What do people do?

Republic Day is a day off work for many people in Italy. Events include:

• Official ceremonies.
• Military parades.
• Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, inside the Altare della Patria in Rome.

Outside Italy, many Italian diplomats in embassies celebrate this day worldwide.

Public life

Republic Day is a nationwide public holiday in Italy. Organizations and businesses that are closed include:

• Government offices.
• Post offices.
• Banks.
• Schools and other educational institutions.

Transport options, such as taxis, rail services between major cities and major long-route bus lines, are available but travelers are advised to check first with the local transport authorities.

Background

On June 2, 1946, many Italians voted in a referendum to rid of the monarchy and for the country to become a republic. The public was hostile to the monarchy, which had supported Benito Mussolini’s rule. Around that time, the Italian royal family was also exiled from Italy.

Symbols

Each year, a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Republic Day. The tomb, which also has an eternal flame, was added to the one of Italy’s largest national monuments, Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), on November 4, 1921. However, the tomb, which was designed by sculptor Alberto Sparapani, was not completed until 1924.

Republic Day Observances

Other holidays in June 2013 in Italy

• The Feast of St. John (Florence, Genoa, Turin) ―Monday, June 24, 2013
• The Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul (Rome) ―Saturday, June 29, 2013