Monument to Anita Garibaldi, Bronze memorial statue on Janiculum hill, Rome, Italy
The Monument to Anita Garibaldi is a bronze equestrian statue on the Janiculum hill in Rome, showing a woman on horseback holding a gun while carrying a child. The statue stands on a bronze pedestal decorated with relief panels depicting scenes from her life.
The monument was completed in 1932 by sculptor Mario Rutelli and also marks the final resting place of Anita Garibaldi, who died in 1849 during the defense of Rome. Her story links the Italian Risorgimento to the independence struggles her husband led in South America.
The bronze panels at the base show scenes from Anita's life, including her military actions in South America and her search for Giuseppe Garibaldi. These reliefs invite visitors to look closely at the base and read the story of a woman who fought alongside men in battle.
The monument is reached by walking through Janiculum Park, which sits on a hill above the Trastevere neighborhood and offers open views over the city. The paths leading to it are paved and easy to follow on foot from several entry points around the hill.
The original model for the statue was reduced by one-third to save bronze, which deeply displeased sculptor Rutelli because he had used his daughter-in-law as the model. This reduction noticeably changed the proportions of the final work, though few visitors today are aware of it.
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