The Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day) commemorates the birth of the Republic in Italy. June 2 was the date of the institutional referendum held by universal suffrage in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, following the Second World War and the fall of Fascism. Republic Day is a nationwide public holiday in Italy and is a day off work for many people. Here a list of special openings of museums and exhibits. The Coliseum and the Roman Forum will be open from 1.30pm to 7.15pm.
The commemoration ceremony, involves the laying of a wreath to the Unknown Soldier at the Altar of the Fatherland.Then a grand military parade is held in via dei Fori Imperiali, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic, in his role as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The parade will be completed by the fly over of the Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour Arrows,) the acrobatic demonstration team of the Italian Aeronautica Militare.
The ceremony continues in the afternoon (from 3pm to 9pm) with the free opening of the gardens of the Quirinale Palace, seat of the Presidency of the Italian Republic, with musical performances by the band of the Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force, of Carabinieri, State Police, the Guardia di Finanza, the Penitentiary Police Corps and the State Forestry Corps.
Here the official website with the complete program. Photo gallery. Virtual Tour of Quirinale Palace.
