April 25 is a national holiday in Italy called Liberation Day. The date commemorates a battle in 1945 that marked the liberation of Italy by Allied forces at the end of World War II. The holiday honors everyone who served in and died during the war. On Wednesday there was a ceremony in Rome attended by policial dignitaries. Here in Genova on Tuesday there was a concert with bands and orchestras that ran all afternoon and into the evening.

All over Italy there are ongoing reminders about World War II. Most cities and towns have a street or piazza called XXV Aprile (25th of April). Buildings damaged during the war echo of the past. In Genova the opera house was destroyed by bombing, and was only properly rebuilt in the 1986. In Parma a section of a palace was damaged and never rebuilt. The jagged edges of what remains of the building stand as a reminder of the war.

Last Modified : April 27th, 2007
Filed under : Italy, Local customs
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