World Autism Awareness Day at the Gianicolo — "I painted my hands and face blue!"

The Gianicolo turns blue

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day, established by the United Nations. In Rome, the chosen venue for the celebration is no coincidence: the Gianicolo Terrace at Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi, one of the most beloved and iconic viewpoints in the capital. From here, the view embraces the entire city, and it is from here that the Mio Fratello è Figlio Unico Non-Profit Social Cooperative launches its message of inclusion, under the poetic title the event has carried for years: "I painted my hands and face blue!".

This is neither a protest nor a closed-door conference for specialists: it is an open festival, designed so that those unfamiliar with autism can approach it without fear, and those who live with it every day can finally feel at the heart of the city, rather than on its margins.

Who organizes it

The Mio Fratello è Figlio Unico non-profit social cooperative was born from the desire of the parents of Francesco, a child with autism spectrum disorder, to create a place where children and young people with any type of difficulty could learn, play, and grow together. Non-partisan and non-denominational, the cooperative operates in Rome, providing diagnostic assessment services, speech therapy, applied behavior analysis (ABA), an integrated playroom, legal support, and—a crucial step for adulthood—job placement. Since 2021, it has also been running an awareness campaign in schools that has already involved over 700 students.

How the day unfolds

The formula is well-established: from 9:30 AM to approximately 3:00 PM, the terrace fills with stands, gazebos, and stations. It begins with a welcome coffee offered by the initiative's partners, followed by a continuous flow of activities:

• Creative workshops and face painting for children, with hands and faces painted blue—the gesture that gives the event its name
• Primary school choirs from the neighborhood and local choral groups
• Historical re-enactments by the Gruppo Storico Romano, featuring demonstrations and themed activities about ancient Rome for children and families
• Military bands, including the Mounted Carabinieri Band and the Bersaglieri Band
• The release of blue balloons, the most symbolic and photographed moment of the day
• Live concerts and a percussion performance by the Bim Bum Band, a group formed within the cooperative itself

A uniquely Roman detail: at exactly noon, the traditional Gianicolo cannon shot rings out from the nearby square, which has marked the city's midday since 1847 and has become a natural part of the event's schedule.

An event for the city, not just for insiders

The day is conceived as a moment of encounter between citizens, professionals, associations, and institutions of the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio Region. Alongside the entertainment, there is space for presenting educational projects carried out in schools, discussing paths to autonomy and job placement for autistic individuals, and hosting third-sector organizations active in the area. It is also a concrete opportunity for fundraising to support the cooperative's services.

The neighborhood and context

The Gianicolo, overlooking Monteverde and Trastevere, is not officially one of the seven hills of Rome, but it is perhaps the most scenic. With the promenade of Garibaldi busts, the lighthouse donated by Italians in Argentina, and the equestrian monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the setting is a piece of Italian Risorgimento history. Choosing this location to talk about autism means claiming visibility and the right to citizenship—moving the topic from the confines of specialized centers to the open heart of the city.

Who it is for

Primarily for families with children: the entire day is child-friendly, with activities that require no prior skills. But it is also for schools, healthcare and educational professionals, associations, and anyone who, while simply passing through the Gianicolo on a spring Sunday, wants to stop, listen to a choir, and take home a blue balloon.