June 2 marks one of the biggest holidays of the year in Italy: Festa della Repubblica, when the nation celebrates its transformation from monarchy to democracy.
Did you know that until about eighty years ago, Italy was governed by a monarchy? That’s right! The country so famous today for its circus-like spectacle of democracy had a king as its head of state until 1946.
June 2, 1946 marks a watershed moment in Italy’s past, when, in the aftermath of World War II, the Italian people cast their votes to become a republic in a constitutional referendum. This transformative moment in the country’s history is commemorated with Festa della Repubblica — Republic Day. It is one of the biggest holidays of the year in Italy, celebrated throughout the nation in grand style.
In this article, we’ll quickly run through the events that led to the demise of the Italian monarchy, and then go over what to expect if you happen to be holidaying in Italy on June 2.
Italy 1861-1946: From Monarchy to Fascism to Democracy
Still in distress from the soul-crushing experience of World War II and the brutalities of fascism on Italian soil, Italians were ready to turn a corner. The domestic terrorism suffered by so many citizens at the hands of Mussolini and his fascist regime was the final chapter in a painful story spanning several decades, when economic depression, social unrest, and political chaos in central Europe gave birth to extreme nationalistic views and the rise of such leaders as Hitler and Il Duce.
Enabling the rise of fascism in Italy was its king, Victor Emmanuel III. A reluctant ruler, the monarch’s imprudent decisions not only led Italy into World War I (where it endured grievous losses in lives and terrain) but also placed Mussolini in power, when Victor Emmanuel appointed him prime minister after the March on Rome in 1922. The king’s capitulation to the menace of fascism and his support for Mussolini so tainted the public’s view of the monarchy that when the referendum finally came on June 2, 1946, Italians voted for its abolishment. Italy became a republic and the royal family was sent into exile.
To learn more about the life and rule of Victor Emmanuel, have a look at this excellent article published by The National WWII Museum of New Orleans:
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/fascist-king-victor-emmanuel-iii-italy
Festa della Repubblica: How Italy Celebrates Its Democracy on June 2
If you find yourself in Italy on Republic Day, you can expect parades, concerts, fireworks, and a general party atmosphere. Shops, businesses, and government offices will be closed. Public transportation will be running on holiday (festivi) schedules.
The most impressive display of national pride on June 2 takes place in Rome, where a military parade is held in the presence of the President of the Italian Republic and other political leaders. The parade is an exuberant affair, accompanied by music and culminating with a show-stopping flyover by the Italian Air Force. This aerial act of flag-waving features the supreme flying of the Frecce Tricolori — the Tricolour Arrows — who stream red, green, and white smoke behind them as they pass over the Victor Emmanuel Monument in their Aermacchi MB-339 jets.
This short video captures the iconic flyover, with the jets passing overhead in formation, and includes some cool footage from inside one of the cockpits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvoTfuELhjo
