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the anthem

Italy’s national anthem is officially titled “Il Canto degli Italiani,” or “The Song of the Italians,” though it is popularly called “Fratelli d’Italia” (“Brothers of Italy”) after its first line. The anthem was written by Goffredo Mameli in Genova in 1847, on the eve of war against Austria; soon after, the musician Micheloe Novaro put the words to music. Its lyrics are a rallying call to Italy to come together—it says, in one verse, “Let one flag, one hope bring us together; the hour has struck for us to join forces.” The song’s memorable melody and compelling lyrics made it a favorite during Italy’s unification and afterwards. On October 12, 1946, Mameli’s anthem became the National Anthem of the Republic of Italy.