Anniversary of the Proclamation of the 1849 Roman Republic on the Janiculum Hill

A date that belongs to Rome

On the night between February 8 and 9, 1849, the Constituent Assembly gathered on the Capitoline Hill to proclaim the Roman Republic, one of the most progressive political experiments of the Italian Risorgimento. Since then, every year, the Janiculum Hill—the site of the 1849 defense and now the guardian of Garibaldian memory—hosts the official commemoration of that date. The ceremony is held in Municipality I of Rome, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region, and annually attracts Risorgimento associations, military units, schools, scholars, and citizens.

The venue: the Garibaldian Ossuary Mausoleum

The heart of the event is the Garibaldian Ossuary Mausoleum at Via Garibaldi 29, the shrine housing the remains of those who fell defending Rome in 1849 and in subsequent Garibaldian campaigns. It is an austere, solemn site overlooking the city, which on the morning of February 9 fills with flags, red shirts, and historical uniforms. A few steps away are the equestrian monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the statue and tomb of Anita Garibaldi, and the Museum of the Roman Republic and Garibaldian Memory, housed at Porta San Pancrazio.

How the day unfolds

The morning follows a consolidated ritual that alternates between institutional and educational moments. It opens with the military band and honors to the fallen, including the laying of laurel wreaths and the sounding of the trumpet; this is followed by speeches from authorities and Risorgimento associations, often featuring descendants of the Garibaldi family. Choral performances by students from Roman high schools add a civic, rather than purely celebratory, spirit to the occasion.

Following this, a free guided tour of the Janiculum Monumental Park leads the public among the busts of Garibaldian heroes, the sites of the clashes, and the hill's scenic viewpoints, ending at Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi. Here, the morning concludes with the famous noon cannon fire—a Roman tradition uninterrupted since 1847—and a short theatrical performance before Anita's tomb.

Why it is worth attending

• It is one of the few opportunities to explore the entire Janiculum Hill on-site with experts and guides.
• Admission is free and no ticket is required: just show up.
• The ceremony is concise and well-paced, suitable for families and weekend visitors to Rome.
• The noon cannon fire is one of the city's most beloved rituals, and here you can experience it up close.
• On the same day, the Museum of the Roman Republic typically offers special openings and dedicated tours.

The Risorgimento context

The 1849 Roman Republic, led by a triumvirate that included Giuseppe Mazzini, was short-lived—lasting only a few months until its fall under the French siege in July—but it produced a Constitution considered among the most modern of its time, abolishing the death penalty and guaranteeing broad freedoms. Many scholars recognize it as a root of the 1948 Republican Constitution, which is why February 9 is also remembered outside Rome, particularly in cities that sent volunteers to the defense.

Around the commemoration

Visitors to the Janiculum can easily round off the day with a walk toward Trastevere, the Fontanone dell'Acqua Paola, San Pietro in Montorio, and the Botanical Garden. It is one of Rome's most beautiful itineraries, and on February 9, it carries the added value of a city telling its story through its own civic history.