Festa della Repubblica

This is the Italian National Day and Republic Day with the main celebration taking place in Rome. It commemorates the institutional referendum held by universal suffrage in 1946 in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government following World War Two and the fall of Fascism. It was decided by 54% to 46% that it was a republic, and the birth of the Italian Republic was sanctioned on 18th June. The official ceremony of the celebrations are in Rome which include the solemn flag-raising ceremony at the Altare della Patria and the tribute to the Italian Unknown Soldier with the deposition of a laurel wreath by the President of the Italian Republic in the presence of the most important officers of the State. After the playing of the National Anthem, the Frecce Tricolori cross the skies of Rome.