LIVORNO This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Defense of Livorno, an important episode of the First War of Independence which saw the city heroically resist, on 10 and 11 May 1849, the siege carried out by the Austrian army.
HISTORY
After two days of fierce fighting, the people of Livorno had to succumb to the overwhelming Habsburg troops.
That heroic resistance of May 1849, however, left an indelible mark, and for the value demonstrated by the citizens, in 1906 Livorno was awarded the Gold Medal for Valor of the Meritorious Cities of the National Risorgimento. “The courageous defense of Livorno from the Austrian assault in May 1849 – we read in the motivation – constitutes the last episode of an almost uninterrupted revolutionary event which characterized the entire two-year period 1848-1849 and which made Livorno the most important center of the democratic and republican movement. After the Piedmontese defeat of Novara, on 23 March 1849, the Austrians pushed southwards and entered Pisa on 1 May, where they prepared to attack the Labronian city. After forty-eight hours of furious fighting, Livorno was conquered.”
Livorno is therefore one of the 27 Italian cities that can boast the Gold Medal of the Risorgimento.
INITIATIVES IN THE CITY
The important anniversary will be celebrated with ceremonies and initiatives organized by the Livorno Committee for the Promotion of Risorgimento Values together with the Municipality of Livorno and numerous other bodies and institutions, scheduled from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th May.
On Friday 10 May, at 9.45 am in Piazza Bartelloni (Porta San Marco), the celebrations of the Defense of Livorno will begin. The ceremony involves the laying of a wreath on the tombstone of the fallen, preceded by the raising of the flag and speeches by the representatives of the institutions.
At 10.20 the procession of participants will form, which will travel along Via Palestro and Via Garibaldi to reach Piazza Garibaldi, where at 10.45 a wreath will be laid at the Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument.
At 11am, in Piazza della Repubblica, weather conditions permitting, an airdrop of paratroopers from the Folgore Brigade is scheduled.
The procession will then head towards Piazza del Municipio, with a delegation stopping in the Fortezza Nuova to honor the Monument to Giuseppe Mazzini.
At 11.30am, bouquets of flowers will be placed on the tombstones of the Fallen placed at the entrance to the Grand Ducal Palace.
At 11.45 the celebrations will continue in the Municipality, in the City Council Hall. In addition to the representatives of the city institutions, the president of the Risorgimento Committee Cecilia Gambacciani and the coordinator of the Risorgimento celebrations Marzino Macchi will speak.
THE GRAND RISORGIMENTAL BALL
The following day, Saturday 11 May, at 5pm, Risorgimento Grand Ball at the Terrazza Mascagni organized by the Circolo Livornese Dance Society.
The dancers of the Grand Ball will leave at 4.30 pm from Villa Mimbelli, to reach the Terrace on the promenade crossing via Forte dei Cavalleggeri and viale Italia.
THE GARIBALDI ASSAULT CHOIR
Also on Saturday 11 May, at 8pm in Piazza Bartelloni (Porta S. Marco) the Coro Garibaldi d’Assalto will perform.
At 8.30 pm the municipal administration will switch on the monumental lighting, while the opening of the Porta S. Marco is scheduled for 9 pm.
THE RE-ENACTMENT IN THE SQUARE
Sunday 12 May, at 4.30 pm in Piazza della Repubblica, re-enactment of the Defense of Livorno with the participation of the Napoleonic and Risorgimento historical re-enactment group “Battaglione Estense” and figures in period costume of Livorno commoners. The initiative will be marked by the notes of the Fanfare of the Naval Academy of Livorno and a performance by the Mascagni Choir is expected. At 5.30 pm visit to Enrico Bartelloni’s house, in via della Cappellina.
