Description
The Equestrian Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi is the large bronze statue that towers over the Public Gardens, in the center of La Spezia. It is worth a stop for a rare detail: the horse is rearing and stands on its hind legs alone.
The bronze weighs 6 tons, all balanced on two legs, on a base of Romito stone. It was sculpted by Antonio Garella, winner of a competition open to Italian sculptors.
The city wanted it to remember Garibaldi's stays in La Spezia: in 1849, after the Roman Republic, in 1862 at Varignano, wounded at Aspromonte, and in 1867 after Mentana. To make room for it, the orange trees of the gardens were cut down.
The inauguration, on June 1, 1913, in front of Garibaldi's veterans and a large crowd, lasted three days: bands, choirs, hymns composed for the occasion, rowing races and bicycle races.
In 2008 stability checks led to a metal support being placed under the horse's belly.
The bronze weighs 6 tons, all balanced on two legs, on a base of Romito stone. It was sculpted by Antonio Garella, winner of a competition open to Italian sculptors.
The city wanted it to remember Garibaldi's stays in La Spezia: in 1849, after the Roman Republic, in 1862 at Varignano, wounded at Aspromonte, and in 1867 after Mentana. To make room for it, the orange trees of the gardens were cut down.
The inauguration, on June 1, 1913, in front of Garibaldi's veterans and a large crowd, lasted three days: bands, choirs, hymns composed for the occasion, rowing races and bicycle races.
In 2008 stability checks led to a metal support being placed under the horse's belly.