If you have been to Italy, you know it: there are some street names you’re bound to find everywhere, from the largest of cities to the tiniest village. Just like you find a Market Square or Shop Street everywhere in England, the Belpaese is the place of Garibaldi Squares and Vittorio Emanuele II Avenues …
Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of Italian unification
Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–1882) is one of Italy’s “Fathers of the Fatherland” and, as many of you know, he had a central role in the unification of the country, in the historical period we know as Risorgimento. As a military general and national hero, he led the Expedition of the Thousand, the Spedizione dei Mille, in 1860, which resulted in the conquest of Southern Italy and the consequent proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, under the Savoia’s rule.
This is why almost every major Italian city, and most towns and villages, have a square or street dedicated to the Hero of the Two Worlds: Piazza Garibaldi in Naples is a pedestrian-friendly hub near the city’s central station. In Rome, Via Garibaldi runs through the historic Gianicolo Hill, a site dedicated to his defense of the Roman Republic in 1849. Turin also has its own Via Garibaldi, an elegant street lined with shops and cafés, just a stone’s throw from Palazzo Reale. Milan honors him with Corso Garibaldi, a lively street in the heart of the city, also known for its shops and cafés.
Vittorio Emanuele II: the first King of unified Italy
Vittorio Emanuele II (1820–1878) was the first king of unified Italy. As the ruler of the Kingdom of Sardinia, he worked closely with leaders like Cavour and Garibaldi to achieve unification: on March 17, 1861, he was declared King of Italy, becoming a symbol of the newly united country.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the most common street names in Italy: in Rome, it connects the historic center to the Vatican, while in Turin, Vittorio Emanuele’s hometown, it is a major thoroughfare running through the city center. In Milan, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is a prominent shopping street, popular with both locals and tourists.
Dante Alighieri: the father of the Italian language
Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) is considered the father of the Italian language: his monumental work, The Divine Comedy, written in the Tuscan volgare — that is to say, Italian — established a common literary language and influenced Italian culture profoundly.
Dante is celebrated for his contributions to both literature and the philosophical and theological thought of his time across Italy: Piazza Dante in Naples is one of the city’s main public squares, and is adorned with a statue of the poet. In Florence, Dante’s birthplace,Via Dante Alighieri leads visitors through the heart of the historic district. Milan has its own Via Dante, a picturesque street connecting the city center to the Castello Sforzesco.
Camillo Benso di Cavour: the architect of unified Italy
Camillo Benso di Cavour (1810–1861) was a statesman and a key architect of Italian unification. He was the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and played a pivotal role in diplomatically maneuvering Italy’s unification, working alongside figures like Garibaldi and Vittorio Emanuele II. In Rome, we find a Piazza Cavour near the Vatican, while Milan has Corso Cavour. In Florence, Via Cavour runs through the historic city center, connecting Piazza San Marco with the iconic Duomo. Important historical events also have a prominent place in Italy’s urban landscape. Streets named after pivotal moments in Italian history are many and, just like those dedicated to national heroes, they are common in cities and villages alike.
Via XX Settembre
Via XX Settembre commemorates September 20, 1870, the date when Italian troops breached Rome’s walls at Porta Pia, ending papal control of the city and bringing Rome into the Kingdom of Italy. This street name is found across the whole country, with the most famous examples in Rome, where the event took place, and Genoa.
Via IV Novembre
This street name is common throughout Italy, and marks the day World War I ended for Italy, on November 4, 1918. Via IV Novembre in Rome is near the historic Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), a monument to Italy’s unification and military history.
Every city has its quirks!
But if it’s true that many street names in Italy commemorate national figures and events, others reflect local history, geography, or even a city’s character. Via Po in Turin, for instance, is dedicated to the city’s most important river, the Po, which also happens to be the longest in the country. The street runs from Piazza Castello to Piazza Vittorio Veneto and, of course, the River Po. It is a wide, elegant street lined with arcades, a reflection of Turin’s Baroque heritage and of its connection to the royal House of Savoia.
Via Monte Napoleone is Milan’s most famous shopping street, located in the heart of the city’s fashion district. Named after Napoleon Bonaparte’s reign in Italy, it is now synonymous with high-end luxury and Italian style.
In Rome, we have Via della Conciliazione, which connects St. Peter’s Basilica to the rest of the city, symbolizing the reconciliation between the Italian state and the Papacy, which took place in 1929 with the signing of the Patti Lateranensi. Via dei Fori Imperiali, on the other hand, runs through the ruins of Rome’s ancient forum, linking the Colosseum with Piazza Venezia. It is, naturally, named after the amazing archaeological treasures around it.
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