Every 25th April Italy celebrates its liberation from the nazis and from twenty-three years of fascist rule with a public holiday. The President of the Republic lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d’Italia organises a march to Porta San Paolo where the liberating forces first entered Rome. The day highlights and celebrates the sacrifices made and the resistance of the Italian people.

  
   The Festa della Liberazione often does mean a festa and public gatherings. Given the sun was almost shining, this year’s 68th celebration meant a picnic in the shade of the ancient aqueducts, followed by the first outdoor cinema of the season at Porta San Paolo. 

Noi lottiamo per una cosa che deve venire, che non pùo non venire. Forse la strada sarà un po’ lunga e difficile, ma arriveremo e lo vedremo un mondo migliore.

   So simple and so moving and so easy to miss. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know that they existed. So for all the picnics and delight at a day off work, the true meaning of La Festa Della Liberazione is never very far away.