April 25 National WW2 Liberation Day Tributes in Florence

A scene during Italy’s liberation

Liberation Day on April 25—a national holiday—is celebrated throughout the country in piazzas and pavilions, in each and every city. Throughout Florence, memorial sites can be “adopted” by citizens, associations and schools. Those who do so, look after the sites and provide donations for upkeep.

The 2022 April 25 commemoration in Florence especially honors the behind-the-scenes and front line work by local resistance fighters (partisans or partigiani) who rose up to oust the remnants of occupation by Nazi-Fascist armed forces in support of the Allied army.  The downfall of Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship and the Nazi presence that dominated Italy’s social and political culture is celebrated annually as a liberating turning point in Italy’s history.

A rich program — public ceremonies and speeches to movies and themed concerts — will also mark the April 25 and 77th Anniversary of the Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day) in Florence.

The day’s events involves remembrances and processions, alongside celebrations and cinemas scheduled to showcase film documentaries about World War II in Florence, including the documentary Bella Ciao, and the films Paisà and Roma, Città Aperta.

All throughout the city of Florence, plaques are dedicated to those who have fought and/or have done something extraordinary or the souls who have fallen victim to bombings or attacks.

Below is a list of memorial sites, plaques and other locations in honor of those who lost their lives during WW2. The city encourages the community to leave flower tributes at the sites mentioned.

THE DAY’S PROGRAM

8:45 am: The celebrations begin early at the Trespiano Cemetery by laying a wreath on the memorial to the fallen, alongside those of the Rosselli brothers at their tomb. The brothers, Florentine natives with the Jewish faith, were significant Italian anti-Fascist activists during the time of political turmoil. While residing in Paris, the brothers were murdered at the hands of French far-right militants. On Independence Day, they are remembered for the courageous lives they led.

10 am: 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 dell’Unita. 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 on the steps of Palazzo Vecchio.

11 am: Greetings will be given by city officials on the steps of the Palazzo Vecchio.

5:30 pm: The official commemorations will conclude with a free concert in Piazza Signoria given by the Rossini Philharmonic Band.

The Accademia Gallery will open its doors to the public this Monday, April 25, in honor of the festivities. On the museum’s usual closing day, the general public can enter from 9 am to 6:45 pm (last admittance at 6:15 pm).

Andrea Vogt’s Bella Ciao: Song of Rebellion documentary premieres at La Compagnia Cinema (via Cavour 50 / r) on April 25 at 9 pm in honor of Liberation day. The documentary delves into how Bella Ciao, a heavily translated and popular song, is entitled the anthem of rebellion movements worldwide. Bella Ciao’s compelling story is described through 20 unpublished testimonies, explaining the evolution of singing as a symbol of liberation over the years.

Organized by the Anémic Association with the National Association of Partisans of Italy, the documentary will be presented by Professor Enrico Acciai of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The film is free of charge, and guests can collect their invitations upon entrance.

Additionally, during the day, the screenings of Paisà (4 pm) and Roma Città Aperta (7 pm) by Roberto Rossellini are open to the public for €3 at Cinema La Compagnia.  (ted de veer & gioia guarino)

WHERE TO LEAVE FLOWERS: MEMORIAL SITES IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING WW2 

Quartiere 1 — FLORENCE HISTORICAL CENTER

Obelisk at the Manifattura Tabacchi, piazza Puccini in front of Teatro Puccini.

Commemorative Plaque on Resistance fighters headquarters, Via Rinuccini, access via 14-32.

Memorial for the Cascine park war victims, viale Washington, Cascine Park.

Obelisk dedicated to the Fallen in Europe, Kennedy square, Cascine Park.

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to anti-fascist Pietro Stefanini, Porto al Prato square (located inside the Polizia Municipale office)

Commemorative Plaque, piazzale di Porta al Prato (near the gate)

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to partisan Valenzano, Santa Maria Novella train station, track 3

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to the deported, Santa Maria Novella train station, track 6

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to political prisoners, Santa Maria Novella square

Obelix for the fallen, Piazza dell’ Unità 

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to Becciolini, via dell’Ariento (located on the facade of Mercato Centrale)

Commemorative Plaque for Spartaco Lavagnini, via Taddea.

Commemorative Plaque ‘Do Not Give Up,’ via Giusti

Memorial to the Fallen of “Radio Cora,” the radio station of the anti-fascist movement, piazza D’Azeglio

Commemorative Plaque for the Fallen of Michelangelo high school, via della Colonna (entrance Michelangiolo high school)

Memorial at the Synagogue, via Farini 6 (Synagogue garden)

Commemorative Plaque for Resistance Fighter Alessandro Sinigaglia, via Pandolfini

Memorial to the Jews, via delle Oche

Memorial dedicated to fallen workers of the post office, via Pellicceria

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to the female Resistance fighters, Chiasso delle Misure

Headquarters of the Tuscan Liberation committee, via Condotta

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to reconquest of Palazzo Vecchio, via dei Gondi

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to fallen Resistance fighters, piazza Signoria (inside Palazzo Vecchio)

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to fallen members of the Florence rowing club, lungarno Maria Luisa de’ Medici (exit of the Canottieri headquarters)

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to Consul Wolf, Ponte Vecchio

Oltrarno Monument, piazza Tasso

Commemorative Plaque to the Victims of Piazza Tasso

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to Partisan Commander Aligi Barducci, piazza Santo Spirito

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to the military district, piazza Santo Spirito

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to Anna Maria Ichino and Carlo Levi, piazza Pitti (located on the house, across from Palazzo Pitti)

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to Palazzo Guicciardini, via dei Guicciardini

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to Niccoli, via dei Bardi

Commemorative Plaque dedicated to Lieutenant Snell, via Lupi

Commemorative Plaque of Via dei Bastioni, via dei Bastioni

Tomb of Corsinovi, San Miniato al Monte (in the Porte Sante cemetery)

Tomb of Giulio Gori, San Miniato al Monte (in the Porte Sante cemetery)