The partisans, who had already been active during the twenty years of Fascist rule, became part of the ‘Partisan Resistance’ throughout the period when Italy was occupied by the Germans, at the height of the war.
A truly hidden people, who turned themselves into an army and organised themselves like one, divided into ‘brigades’, who fearlessly fought back in every way possible and, with the ultimate help of the Allies, defeated the enemy.
April 1945 marked the height of the Partisan uprising in the Po Valley. On the 14th, the Partisans entered Imola and headed for Bologna, where they arrived on the 21st alongside their Polish allies.
On the 24th, Reggio Emilia was liberated. On 25 April, Parma, Genoa and, above all, Turin and Milan were liberated.
25 April therefore goes down in history as the day on which the whole of Italy was freed from all forms of oppression. For from that day onwards, in quick succession, the whole of Italy – even the smallest villages – was liberated.
On 27 April, the capture of Benito Mussolini and his sentencing to death on 28 April marked the prelude to the end of the ‘Resistance’, which no longer had any reason to exist.
Having been designated a national holiday since 1946, it has always retained its ‘character as a Festival of National Unity’. From the founding of the Republic to the present day, many national holidays have been added to and removed from the calendar countless times, depending on political developments both in our country and across the rest of Europe and the world – all except 25 April.
And that was a good thing, because it serves as a warning to future generations. Primo Levi, a leading literary figure of the war and post-war periods, emphasised and reiterated this concept: ‘We must not forget’; the past must serve as a lesson, a constant beacon in people’s minds.
Being an integral part of history must ensure that the dark chapters of history are never repeated. Today, 25 April, is a time for remembrance in Italy, but also a time for celebration. Rimini, the cradle of entertainment, naturally offers the chance to celebrate, but it does not turn a blind eye to history.
This town in Romagna doesn’t just welcome its guests to draw them to the sea and the lidos; it also organises shows, conferences, group reading sessions, music in the squares, art exhibitions… all organised in the spirit of remembrance and the marvellous opportunity to be free, which was bestowed upon us by a group of men who never ceased to believe and fight.
Search for your hotel in Romagna – 3-star, 4-star, 2-star, guesthouses, holiday apartments, bed and breakfasts – and you’re sure to find last-minute deals for the 25 April bank holiday weekend on the Romagna Riviera that suit your needs.
Find your hotel for 25 April in Rimini, Riccione, Cattolica, Cesenatico, Milano Marittima, Cervia, Gabicce, Misano and Bellaria-Igea Marina.
