Rome marks national holiday with military parade.

Italy celebrates Festa della Repubblica, Italy's Republic Day, with a national public holiday on Sunday 2 June 2024.

This year marks the 78th edition of the annual event which commemorates the day in 1946 when Italians voted in favour of a republic and against the monarchy which had been discredited during world war two.

• Italy's public holidays: a quick guide

The national event traditionally sees President Sergio Mattarella lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Rome's Vittoriano monument in Piazza Venezia on the morning of 2 June.

After the president lays the wreath, one of the most popular events associated with Festa della Repubblica in Rome takes place: a spectacular aeronautical display by the Frecce Tricolori jets flying in formation over the city centre, emitting plumes with the red, white and green colours of the Italian flag.

Another impressive spectacle involves teams of firefighters unfurling a giant Italian tricolour at the Colosseum.

A major military parade will take place along Via dei Fori Imperiali, against the backdrop of the Colosseum, comprising thousands of members of Italy’s army, navy and police forces.

The mounted Carabinieri police led by their little mascot dog Briciola at the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside the Quirinal Palace in Rome as part of Italy's celebrations to mark Festa della Repubblica. #2giugno pic.twitter.com/G4PW4tl0G6

— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) June 1, 2024

The event will result in numerous street closures and traffic restrictions in the centre.

For the second year in a row, Italy will mark Festa della Repubblica by opening state museums and archaeological sites for free on 2 June,

It will also be possible to visit Palazzo Madama, seat of the Italian senate, from 10.00 to 18.00.

To access the building, it is necessary to collect a ticket by going to the entrance on the same day, from 08.30 onwards. Each visitor can request, subject to availability, a maximum of four tickets.

Festa della Repubblica falls on a Sunday in 2024, making no difference to Italy's public offices and schools which are normally closed for the national holiday.