Celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the unification of Italy were officially opened by President Napolitano in Genova yesterday.
The President laid a laurel wreath at the foot of the monument to Garibaldi’s Thousand and, in a reference to criticisms of the celebrations, the President said that they are a waste of neither time nor money as they offer Italians an opportunity to unite for the sake of the nation’s future. He called upon Italians to remember reasons for pride in their nation because, he said, these are needed.
Minister of Culture Sandro Bondi, also speaking at the event, announced that March 17th 2011 will be a national holiday. The celebrations are controversial because Northern League leader Umberto Bossi has called them “rhetorical and useless”. Mr Bossi has also expressed the hope that Italy will be a federal State – in effect making the North autonomous - by 2011. This idea is anathema to many Italians, who feel strongly about the unity of their country.
Garibaldi and his famous Thousand sailed from Quarto, Genoa to Marsala in Sicily on the evening of 5th May 1860. After conquering Sicily and thus the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Garibaldi sailed for Naples, which he delivered to King Vittorio Emmanuele II [of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia] in 1861. On 17th March 1861 Vittorio Emmanuele II was proclaimed King of the united country of Italy.
Yesterday, at the ringing of a bell by President Napolitano, two sailing boats set off from Genoa for Marsala, following Garibaldi’s route. The Italian Post Office yesterday issued four stamps commemorating the Expedition of the Thousand.
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