Never Forget: Florence’s Liberation Day Celebrations 2018

WW2 partisan Silvano Sarti (standing)

A rich program — public ceremonies and speeches to themed picnics and concerts — will mark the April 25 national holiday Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day) in Florence.  The commemoration marks the day in 1945 when, thanks to behind-the-scenes and front line work by resistance fighters (partisan or partigiani) the Italian people rose up to oust the remnants of occupation by Nazi-Fascist armed forces.

Florence mayor Dario Nardella, in the presence of the city’s political and religious authorities, will lay a wreath on the monument honoring the fallen in Piazza Santa Croce at 10 am.  At the end of the ceremony (10:30 am), a procession will form, accompanied by citizens in historic costume carrying banners, proceeding to Piazza Signoria where the official ceremony, with the mayor officiating, will take place.  Instead of Florence resistance fighter Silvano Sarti (pictured), well over 90 years old, who participated until 2017, the vice president of the ANPI (National Association of Partisans in Italy) will give a speech.

Organized by ANPI, the fight against fascism yesterday and today will be subject of  talks hosted on a stage in Piazza Poggi.  At 1 pm lunch will be available for guests; a small contribution from the €13 cost will be donated to the family of Idy Diene, the African vendor killed by a passerby on Ponte Vespucci in March.

Festivities continue in Piazza Santo Spirito starting at 3 pm, capped by a march beginning at 5 pm to Piazza Tasso.  There, a wreath will be placed honoring resistance commander “Potente” (Aligi Barducci) who lost his life because of a German grenade launched in Piazza Santo Spirito in August, 1944 during the Nazi retreat.

The official commemorations will come to a close with a free concert in Piazza Signoria given by the Rossini Philharmonic Band (5:30 pm).

The Orchestra della Toscana will be onstage at Teatro Verdi in a performance entitled “Peace and Love: Dreaming for a Better World” at 9 pm as a tribute to the ideals of Liberation Day; see how to reserve a ticket to this free event.