The most "interesting" thing about the (officially Il Canto degli Italiani ) is that it was technically a "temporary" anthem for 71 years . Although it has been used since 1s946, it only became the official national anthem of Italy by law in December 2017 . 5 Fast Facts About "Fratelli d'Italia"
: Unlike many somber anthems, the music (composed by Michele Novaro) is a bright, rhythmic march designed to be catchy and energizing for troops during the Risorgimento . inno_nazionale_inno_di_mameli_fratelli_ditalia_...
: The lyrics were written in 1847 by Goffredo Mameli , a 20-year-old student and patriot. Sadly, he died just two years later from a wound sustained while defending Rome. The most "interesting" thing about the (officially Il
: The opening line mentions "Scipio's helmet" ( l'elmo di Scipio ), referring to Scipio Africanus , the Roman general who defeated Hannibal. It symbolizes Italy crowning herself with the glory of ancient Rome. : The lyrics were written in 1847 by
: Even the great opera composer Giuseppe Verdi preferred Mameli’s hymn over others, choosing it to represent Italy in his Inno delle nazioni (Hymn of the Nations) in 1862.
: Most people only know the first part, but the full poem contains five stanzas. One of the later verses explicitly calls for unity against the Austrian Empire, which is why it was politically sensitive for decades.