National Anthems of the World

Lyrics, history and anecdotes

🇮🇹 Italy

The national anthem of Italy is called: « Il Canto degli Italiani ».

Continent: Europe

Bordering Countries:
🇦🇹 Austria
🇫🇷 France
🇸🇮 Slovenia
🇨🇭Switzerland

History of « Il Canto degli Italiani »

« Il Canto degli Italiani, » also known as « Fratelli d’Italia » (Brothers of Italy), is the national anthem of Italy. The anthem was written in the mid-19th century during the Italian unification movement and has since become a symbol of Italian national pride and unity.

Key Dates and People

  • 1847: The lyrics of « Il Canto degli Italiani » were written by Goffredo Mameli, a young Italian poet and patriot. The music was composed by Michele Novaro, an Italian musician and composer.
  • 1946: After the fall of Fascism and the establishment of the Italian Republic, « Il Canto degli Italiani » was adopted as the provisional national anthem.
  • 2017: The Italian Parliament officially confirmed « Il Canto degli Italiani » as the national anthem of Italy, solidifying its status.

Anecdotes

  • Patriotic Origins: The anthem was written during a period of intense nationalistic fervor and revolutionary activity aimed at unifying the various states and territories of the Italian Peninsula into a single nation. It quickly became a rallying cry for Italian patriots.
  • Mameli’s Sacrifice: Goffredo Mameli, the lyricist, died at the young age of 21 from a wound sustained during the defense of the Roman Republic in 1849. His early death turned him into a martyr for the cause of Italian unification.
  • Provisional to Permanent: Although « Il Canto degli Italiani » was adopted as a provisional anthem in 1946, it took over 70 years for it to be officially confirmed as the national anthem by the Italian Parliament in 2017.

Full Lyrics

In Italian

Fratelli d'Italia,
L'Italia s'è desta,
Dell'elmo di Scipio
S'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
Ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.

Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò, sì!

Noi fummo da secoli
Calpesti, derisi,
Perché non siam popolo,
Perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
Bandiera, una speme:
Di fonderci insieme
Già l'ora suonò.

Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò, sì!

Uniamoci, amiamoci,
L'unione e l'amore
Rivelano ai popoli
Le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero
Il suolo natio:
Uniti, per Dio,
Chi vincer ci può?

Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò, sì!

Dall'Alpe a Sicilia,
Dovunque è Legnano,
Ogn'uom di Ferruccio
Ha il core, ha la mano,
I bimbi d'Italia
Si chiaman Balilla,
Il suon d'ogni squilla
I Vespri suonò.

Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò, sì!

Son giunchi che piegano
Le spade vendute:
Già l'Aquila d'Austria
Le penne ha perdute.
Il sangue d'Italia,
Il sangue Polacco,
Bevé, col cosacco,
Ma il cor le bruciò.

Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Italia chiamò, sì!

In English (Translation)





Brothers of Italy,
Italy has woken,
Bound Scipio's helmet
Upon her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
For God created her
Slave of Rome.

Let us join in a cohort,
We are ready to die.
Italy has called.
Let us join in a cohort,
We are ready to die.
Italy has called, yes!

We were for centuries
Downtrodden and derided,
Because we are not a people,
Because we are divided.
Let one flag, one hope
Gather us all.
The hour has struck
For us to unite.

Let us join in a cohort,
We are ready to die.
Italy

Sources: