Perhaps you’ve noticed the determined look on his face. That is Giuseppe La Farina. Here in Turin, we honor this pivotal figure of the Risorgimento. It’s a tribute to a man whose life was dedicated to a unified Italy.
Giuseppe La Farina was born in Messina, Sicily, in 1815. He died here in Turin in 1863. Though his life was relatively short at only 48 years, his impact was immense. La Farina was a revolutionary writer and a leader in the movement for Italian unification.
After earning a law degree, he joined a secret committee pushing for Italian unity. Following a failed insurrection in 1837, he was exiled. He returned to Messina after receiving amnesty. There, he pursued literary work and continued his revolutionary activities in Naples and Palermo.
Living by his writing in Florence after 1841, La Farina founded the political journal L’Alba in 1847. Revolution flared in 1848. He returned to Messina. He served as a deputy, secretary to the chamber of communes in Palermo, minister of public instruction, public works, war, and navy. The revolution failed. He was exiled again in April. He stayed in Paris until 1853, then returned to Turin.
In 1857, La Farina helped establish the Italian National Society. This was a nationalist organization committed to unifying Italy. After 1857, he maintained frequent contact with Count Cavour. They planned annexation strategies, policies, and military actions. La Farina secured Sicilian funds for Garibaldi’s conquest of Sicily and Naples in 1860. However, he lost favor with Garibaldi. This happened when La Farina circulated an annexationist paper called L’Annessione in Palermo. Garibaldi had him arrested and deported to Genoa in July 1860.
Earlier that year, La Farina had been elected to the Chamber of Deputies. Later, he became a councillor of state. La Farina was a prolific writer. His greatest work is considered to be Storia d’Italia dal 1815 al 1850. This work explored Italy’s future as a nation. His letters were compiled and edited by Ausonio Franchi in Epistolario di Giuseppe La Farina.
Other notable works by La Farina include Studi sul secolo XIII and Storia d’Italia. He also wrote Rivoluzione siciliana nel 1848 e 49. In Turin’s Piazza Solferino, this monument captures La Farina in a moment of contemplation. He is reading a document. The inscription honors him as a distinguished historian. It recognizes him as a champion of Italy’s unity and liberty.
Giuseppe La Farina’s legacy extends beyond his writings and political actions. He represents the spirit of the Risorgimento. His dedication to a unified Italy continues to inspire. His story is a reminder of the power of ideas and the courage of those who fight for them.