Frecce Tricolori Air Show Rerun

In a preview for the June 2 Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica) holiday, the Frecce Tricolori, a squadron of the Italian Air Force performed an aerobatic show.  The planes flew north to Monte Morello and Prato, only to turn around back to Florence  to color the sky between Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo with green, white, and red exhaust smoke. See video here.

The crowds on the bridges and on lookout points were all wearing face masks but did not particularly take social distancing into account.

The last flight of Frecce Tricolori, which translates loosely to “Arrows of the Italian flag,” over the Tuscan capital was several years ago, so spectators who saw the demonstration were a lucky few.

Italy’s Republic Day commemorates the June 2, 1946 referendum when the Italian people voted to abolish the monarchy, opting instead to create a national government as a republic with representatives voted by the citizens.  (rosanna cirigliano)