The music of the Italian national anthem was composed in 1847 by Michele
Novaro, to words by the young poet, Goffredo Mameli. This song, known as
L'Inno di Mameli has been the national anthem of the Republic of Italy since
1948. Between 1861 (the year when Italy became a united nation) and 1946 the
official anthem was the March of the House of Savoy.
The words of the anthem were meant to call to mind past battles for freedom
waged by the Lombard towns, the Florentine republic, the Genoese, together
with the young Balilla, against the Austrians, the Sicilians against the
French in the so-called Sicilian Vespers. The focus of all aspirations to
freedom was Rome, the Rome which, in another poem, Mameli called City of
memories, city of hope. On November 23, 1847 Mameli went to take the anthem
to his musician friend, Michele Novaro, who lived in Turin. Overnight the
enthused Novaro composed the music, and the next day, in Genoa, Mameli
brought back words and music to his companions. A few days later, on
December 1, Fratelli D'Italia was played for the first time, at a popular
assembly. The tune began to run like wildfire throughout the peninsula. It
was on everyone's lips, in defiance of the Austrian, Bourbon and Papal
police.
INNO DI MAMELI (Mameli's Hymn)
The Italian National anthem
Fratelli d'Italia Italian brothers,
L'Italia s'è desta Italy has arisen,
Dell'elmo di Scipio With Scipio's helmet
S'è cinta la testa. binding her head.
Dove'è la Vittoria?. Where is Victory?
Le porga la chioma; Let her bow down,
Chè schiava di Roma For God has made her
Iddio la creò. The slave of Rome.
Stringiamoci a coorte, Let us gather in legions,
Siam pronti alla morte: Ready to die!
Italia chiamò! Italy has called!
Noi siamo da secoli We for centuries
Calpesti e derisi, Have been downtrodden and derided,
Perchè non siam popolo, Because we are not a people,
Perchè siam divisi; Because we are divided.
Raccolgaci un'unica Let one flag, one hope
Bandiera, un speme; Bring us together;
Di fonderci insieme; The hour has struck
Già l'ora suonò. For us to join forces.
Stringiamoci a coorte, Let us gather in legions,
Siam pronti alla morte: Ready to die!
Italia chiamò! Italy has called!
Uniamoci, amiamoci; Italy has called!
L'unione e l'amore For union and love
Rivelano ai popoli Reveal to peoples
Le vie del Signore: The way of the Lord
Giuriamo far libero Let us swear to free
Il suolo natío; Our native soil;
Uniti per Dio If we are united under God,
Chi vincer ci può?. Who can conquer us?
Stringiamoci a coorte, Let us gather in legions,
Siam pronti alla morte: Ready to die!
Italia chiamò! Italy has called!
Dall'Alpi a Sicilia From the Alps to Sicily,
Dovunque è Legnano Everywhere it is Legnano;
Ogni uom di Ferruccio: Every man has the heart
Ha il cuor e la mano. and hand of Ferruccio.
I bimbi d'Italia The children of Italy
Si chiamano Balilla: Are all called Balilla;
Il suon d'ogni squilla Every trumpet blast
I vespri suonò. Sounds the (Sicilian) Vespers.
Stringiamoci a coorte, Let us gather in legions,
Siam pronti alla morte: Ready to die!
Italia chiamò! Italy has called!
Son giunchi che piegano Mercenary swords
Le spade vendute: Are feeble reeds,
Già l'Aquila d'Austria And the Austrian eagle
Le penne ha perdute. Has lost his plumes.
Il sangue d'Italia This eagle that drunk the blood
E il sangue polacco of Italy and Poland,
Bevè col Cosacco together with the Cossack,
Ma il cor le bruciò But this has burned his gut.
Stringiamoci a coorte Let us gather in legions,
Siam pronti alla morte: Ready to die!
Italia chiamò! Italy has called!
The Euro In Italy
Italy Started Using The Euro on January 1st 2002:
On new year's day 2002, Italy, like the other 11 members of the Eurozone,
started using Euro notes and Euro coins for cash transactions. Within a few
months, the old coins and banknotes in Lire have been withdrawn.
In Italy, the euro coin designs were subject to scrutiny by a national
technical and artistic committee before being presented to the nation on RAI
uno, Italy’s largest national television station. A different design has
been selected for each denomination, chosen from masterpieces by Italy’s
famous artists.
2 Euro:
This depicts a portrait drawn by Raphaël of Dante Alighieri, housed in the
Pope Julius II Wing of the Vatican Palace
1 Euro:
This coin shows the famous drawing, The Vitruvian Man, by Leonardo da Vinci,
displayed in the gallery of the Academy in Venice, illustrating the ideal
proportions of the human body.
50 Euro Cents:
This depicts the statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback.
20 Euro Cents:
This coin portrays a sculpture by Umberto Boccioni, leader of the Italian
futurist school. Note the 7 indents or scallops on the edge.
10 Euro Cents:
This commemorates one of the greatest triumphs in Italian art. It shows one
of the most famous works in the world, the "Birth of Venus" by Sandro
Botticelli.
5 Euro Cents:
This shows the Flavius amphitheatre, which Emperor Vespasian began building
around 75 AD and Emperor Titus inaugurated in 80 AD.
2 Euro Cents:
This shows the Mole Antonelliana, a tower designed in 1863 by Alessandro
Antonelli.
1 Euro Cent:
The Castel del Monte appears on this coin.
taken from: http://www.eurocoins.co.uk/italy.html
Italy's Public Holidays
January
01 Wednesday New Year's Day
06 Monday Epiphany (la Befana)
April
20 Sunday Easter Sunday
21 Monday Easter Monday
25 Friday Liberation Day
May
01 Thursday Workers' Day
June
02 Monday Anniversary of the Republic
August
15 Friday Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
November
01 Saturday All Saints' Day
02 Sunday WWI Victory Anniversary Day
December
08 Monday Immaculate Conception
25 Thursday Christmas Day
26 Friday Boxing Day or St. Stephen's Day
Note: In addition, local feast days are held in honour of town patron
saints, generally without closure of shops and offices. These include:
Turin/Genoa/Florence: Jun 24 (St John the Baptist). Milan: Dec 7 (St
Ambrose). Siena: Jul 2 and Aug 16, Palio horserace. Venice: Apr 25 (St
Mark). Bologna: Oct 4 (St Petronius). Naples: Sep 19 (St Gennaro). Bari: Dec
6 (St Nicholas). Palermo: Jul 15 (St Rosalia). Rome: Jun 29 (St Peter).
Trieste: Nov 3.
