Annual event coincides with canonisation weekend

On 25 April Italy celebrates the 69th Festa della Liberazione which marks the country’s liberation from German occupation and fascist rule at the end of world war two.

A public holiday across Italy, all state schools and offices are closed Friday 25 April, as well as many shops, resulting in a long weekend for most people.

This year the annual public holiday coincides with the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II at the Vatican on Sunday 27 April. At 09.30 on 25 April about 3,000 people are expected to march from the Colosseum to Porta S. Paolo with the Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia (ANPI).

The route follows Via Celio Vibenna, Via di S. Gregorio, Viale Aventino and Viale della Piramide Cestia, and police will be removing all parked cars from Via di S. Gregorio and Piazza di Porta S. Paolo before the event.

Also at 09.30 the 69th Gran premio ciclistico della Liberazione race for cyclists in the under 23 category begins and ends at the Baths of Caracalla. Some 200 cyclists belonging to cycling clubs from Italy and 20 other countries are involved in the annual race, which ends at about 13.00. In addition to the main race, there are a number of other events taking place including a cycle-walk and cycling events for children.

That evening at 18.00, ANPI is holding an event entitled Bella Ciao! La resistenza femminile in the Sala Lepanto at Palazzo Colonna, to recall the role of women in the resistance.

In the Pigneto district, celebrations take place over two days, from 25-26 April. The 13th edition of Pigneto, Quartiere in Festa includes music, cinema, theatre, literature and sport. There are numerous disruptions to public transport as well as traffic diversions during the day, from 07.00. For full details see the Muoversi a Roma website.