by InTrieste
Italy will celebrate its Festa della Repubblica, or Republic Day, on Monday, June 2, with a show of military pageantry, soaring jets, and a nationwide pause that many Italians will use to kick off the unofficial start of summer.
The holiday marks the anniversary of the 1946 referendum in which Italians, emerging from the rubble of World War II and the fall of Fascism, voted to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. This year’s celebration is the 79th edition of the national event — a solemn, symbolic nod to the country’s rebirth from dictatorship into democracy.
While Rome hosts the grandest of the celebrations, the rest of the country marks the day with varying degrees of formality — and festivity. From Trieste down, most public offices, schools, and supermarkets will be closed. Many Italians are taking advantage of the Monday holiday to enjoy a long weekend, heading to the beach, the mountains, or ancestral villages for time with family.
In a gesture of civic accessibility, state-run museums and archaeological sites will offer free entry on June 2. Italians and tourists alike will be able to explore some of the country’s greatest treasures — from the Uffizi in Florence to Pompeii — without cost.
Yet behind the flag-waving and the parades lies a deeper reflection. Festa della Repubblica remains a reminder of Italy’s complex 20th-century history — one shaped by war, resistance, and political transformation. It is a celebration of democracy, but also of resilience.
