MAPS
MILANO
Between the Third Italian War of Independence (1866) and the establishment of the Triple Alliance (1882), Milan undertook a process of modernization and transformation of the public spaces (urban setting, public transport, electric lighting) and of its own identity…
Bologna
In the post-Unification years, Bologna began its own process of emancipation and secularization from the previous papal ruling. University and the cultural life of the town flourished. However, compared to other cities, Bologna remained economically quite regressed. As a poor town, full of social contradictions…
Firenze
After Italy’s Unification, Florence underwent enormous changes, especially from 1866 onwards when it became capital of the Kingdom. The status of capital, held until 1871, had a significant impact on different aspects: on the one hand, Florence had to incorporate the complex bureaucratic apparatus of the kingdom, on the other it had to widen the structural and cultural boundaries…
ROMA
During the 19th century, there were undoubtedly two Romes: the first, ruled by Pope-King Pius IX, before the Unification (1846-1871), and the second post-Unification (from 1871). A small village based on agriculture and farming, Rome was the capital of a culturally and economically regressed state, but from 1871 onwards the city gradually underwent an ongoing development and expansion…
NAPOLI
The Kingdom of the two Sicilies definitively lost its independence in 1860. After losing its status of capital, Naples underwent a complicated and conflicting period. On the one hand, a new sense of freedom permeated the society and culture regenerated after the oppressive and dark years of the Bourbon’s ruling. On the other side, however, the city sensed the dramatic risk of losing its prestige and strong identity…
PALERMO
After the Unification and after voting in 1860 in favour of the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy, Palermo was a very poor city: the strong social inequalities led to a violent popular riot in September 1866. During the second half of 19th century, the town underwent a great urban and demographic expansion, new districts and major roads were built, such as the known viale della Libertà…
