Monumento a Giuseppe Garibaldi, Monument and statue in Parma, Italy
The Monumento a Giuseppe Garibaldi is a bronze statue standing in the center of Parma's main square, depicting the national hero in a relaxed pose holding a sword. It rests on a pink granite base decorated with bronze reliefs and a laurel crown.
After Garibaldi died on June 2, 1882, the city launched a competition and chose Piedmontese artist Davide Calandra to create a memorial in his honor. The statue was unveiled on May 28, 1893, in heavy rain, funded through private donations and newspaper campaigns. Before the monument, the same spot held the Ara Amicitiae, a structure built in 1769 to mark Parma's alliance with Austria.
Piazza Garibaldi is the heart of daily life in Parma, where locals meet for coffee or a stroll through the city center. The statue serves as a natural meeting point and a familiar backdrop for the square's everyday activity.
The monument stands on Piazza Garibaldi, easy to reach on foot from anywhere in the city center and surrounded by old buildings and cafes. A visit fits naturally into a walk through the surrounding streets.
The bronze was cast at the Fonderia Sperati in Turin, after planners originally chose marble before switching to the more costly metal. The base carries three reliefs showing key moments from Garibaldi's life: the defense of Rome in 1849, the battle of San Fermo in 1859, and the landing at Marsala in 1860.
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