Italy's 150th Anniversary

2011 Marks Italy's 150th Birthday (Photo from <a href=

The land of Italy has an ancient history the stretches back nearly 3,000 years, and that has housed civilizations that have shaped the Western World as we now know it. It is surprising for some, especially considering that Italy is also widely recognized as the queen of art and history, that Italy as a unified republic is still quite a new idea. Modern Italy is one of the youngest nations in the world, having become unified in 1861 and a republic only after 1946, after World War II. 

After the Fall of Rome, Italy was divided into many autonomous city states that had their own armies and their own economies. These cities states were basically like their own countries, able to trade with others at the far corners of the globe. Through the centuries the French and Spaniards took over more and more territory. They also came to rule over pretty much every single empire and ruling kingdom in Southern Europe. This meant a bizarre situation for "Italy," which became a territory dominated by foreigners, but populated by people who shared a common history and somewhat of a common language (the lower classes always stuck close to their dialects rather than Dante's Italian).

After Napoleon lost his Empire and his Italian kingdom, Europe was entirely reshaped by the Vienna Congress and Italy started to gain a sense of unity and began to feel the need to become a unified nation. The driving force for this was the economical and philosophical needs of politicians, but slowly even the masses began to see the peninsula as one under the rule of the Savoias.

Italian National Commercial About the 150th Celebration

The political scheme was set into motion and was finally accomplished when Garibaldi took over Southern Italy and delivered it to the King at the historical meeting of Teano. Rome would be added later, but that moment marked the first time that the majority of what is now Italy was unified under one rule. The first time this had occurred since the dissolution of the Roman Empire. At the moment of the Teano meeting the King told Garibaldi that Italy had been made, but now Italians needed to be made. This was a farsighted vision that proved true. The population had been dominated for centuries, especially in the south, and the mentality and patriotism was very far from being a reality and even the political system had to be built from scratch.

The capital was originally in Turin, the capital of the Kingdom Sabaudo, but over time it was moved to Florence and then Rome, which seems to be the natural capital of Italy, considering how much originated from the Eternal City. Rome also made geographic sense, as it is located in the middle and easily accessible from both the North and South. However, it wasn't until World War I, when Italy defeated the Austrians, that Italians finally took over their own borders.

At that point the country needed a strong Italian soul and Benito Mussolini found his way to power, using the patriotism and the concept of Italy as daughter of Rome. Internally, the reorganization and reforms he made were important, but Fascism made some vital mistakes and unforgivable decisions, many of which led to World War II and the disaster we all know. At the end of the war a probably fixed referendum abolished monarchy in favor of a Republic that has showed its strengths since the beginning, positioning itself well in the Western World and taking full advantage of its capabilities, rapidly growing into the sixth leading economy in the world, a founding member of the European Union and a major world player. 

Italy's 150 year anniversary

These past 150 years have changed the land of Italy probably more than any other European country. Germany may have followed a very similar path, but Italy is unique in what has transpired within its borders. Now, in 2011, the country is ready to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its unification.

Many events are on the calendar in Italy to mark this momentous occasion. It is likely that there will also be celebrations around the world, as there are about 60 million Italians, or descendants of Italians, living outside of Italy. We all hope that this will be an opportunity for joy, but also a time to focus as one, grouping together the interests of Italians and Italy under one flag and the three colors it proudly flies: green, white and red. This would also be a banner year to visit Italy!