150, Festa della Repubblica Italiana (1861-2011) Festa degli Italiani

June 2 marks the birth in 1946 of the modern Italian Republic in this year of the 150th Anniversary of the creation of one united country, Italy. The President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano went first to the Vittoriano, the great white marble monument on Piazza Venezia this morning to lay a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier in front of the statue of the Goddess Roma. Then he was driven in his elegant and beautiful convertible official car a 1961 Lancia Flaminia 3035 around the Roman Forum and returned via the Circus Maximus and the Porta di Capena to the avenue which leads to the great Arch of Constantine below the Palatine Hill, considered in Antiquity the official entrance to Rome. This is were Marcus Tullius Cicero entered Rome when he returned from exile shortly before the assassination of Julius Caesar. The Presidential car like all things designed in Italy is a mixture of elegance, style, sportiness and relaxed comfort and beauty. You admire the car for its colour a medium level blue, it's a convertible and can seat 4 persons in the back and 2 in the front. It is not like a lot of other State cars anonymous and bulky, it is also not bullet proof or bomb proof. Usually the President on the right of the car and his wife or in this case the Minister of Defence on the left, on the jump seat the Chief of the Defence Staff and Head of the Carabinieri. On the front seat the driver wearing white cotton gloves and next to him the Head of the Personal bodyguard of the President, in his grand Gala Uniform.

                               Lancia Flaminia 1957-1970

There he received the salute of the Italian Armed Forces as leaders of the world gathered on the official dais on Via Dei Fori Imperiali. I learned today that the blue colour is the official colour of Italy, I always wondered why, it turns out it is the colour of the Royal Family of Italy, the House of Savoy. Italy despite being a Republic since 1946 has kept the colour blue as the National colour.

All European countries sent either their Head of State or Head of Government to the ceremonies today. Many other countries sent delegations.
Beautiful sunny day today 20 C. The parade down Via dei Fori Imperiali is largely an historical pageant this year of the Armed Forces of Italy for the last 150 years, in keeping with the events being celebrated. Very well done and high in colour. Every Army, Air Force, Navy and Police regiment is represented. Also delegations of the historical 3 capitals of Italy, Torino, Firenze, Roma. NATO sent a delegation, many countries also sent military detachments. The Italian Navy has a horse regiment, probably the only one in the world to have such a thing and the Army has a railroad regiment.

Interesting note is the seating plan on the Dais, sitting on the left of the President is the president of the Parliament and on the far right two seats down is the Prime Minister Berlusconi, he seemed to have been pushed to the side. Last year he was sitting immediately to the left of the President. President Karzai of Afghanistan was seated between the President of Kosovo and Joe Biden the USA Vice-President who did not appear to have much to say to Karzai. Though he talked up the President of Kosovo who was wearing a classic Chanel outfit.

The parade concluded with all the horse regiments coming down the avenue and the two pass by of the Italian Air Force over Rome and our house since we live in the centre. You can hear them coming for at least 10 seconds before they actually appear in the sky. This evening the President of the Republic is hosting a grand State Dinner at his residence at the Quirinale Palace.

Easter Luncheon in Rome

Today as is the tradition we went to our friends S, R, and S. for lunch. We picked up the professor who lives in Salario on our way and there we met with other guests.

Simonetta always prepares beautiful table settings, here the centre piece is Sicilian, a lamb of God made in Marzipan. The menu as always is pure Roman, we start with a  glass of Proseco, then à table, first we had a slice of cheese bread baked to look like a chef's hat, this is typically Italian Easter bread, served with hard boiled eggs which have been painted bright red or dark green or some other colour. They are placed inside a Fabergé style egg container presented to each guest at table. This is accompanied by some hard cheeses like Parmigiano and Pecorino, a hard goat cheese and green fava beans or broad beans served raw and some salami made specially for Easter served with a nice glass of red wine, in this case it was a wine from the Friuli (Northern Italy).

Professor Alberto Testa and Anita Garibaldi

Afterwards the main course was roast beef and asparagus in season at this time with oven roasted potatoes, served with another red wine from Umbria. Finally crudités of celery, carrots and radishes with a bit of olive oil and salt.

Dessert was fresh strawberries with a bit of lemon juice and sugar and Will's Pastiera with a glass of Proseco. The Pastiera was a huge success, it was Will's first try at making it from an old Neapolitan recipe. Mrs. A. Garibaldi ate 3 pieces, she declared it to be wonderful, with that sort of Official endorsement Will must be an Honorary Italian now.  We also had marrons glacés, a personal favorite with little candied violets.  

il professore and I in conversation after lunch.

Tomorrow is Pasquetta (little easter) so we are having roasted leg of lamb. The fun never stops and more guests at our house this time.