In the news1946
Italy becomes a Republic
In 1946, Italian voters chose to abolish the monarchy in a referendum, leading to the birth of the Republic.
Born 23 Apr 1947
6 facts1 source
Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.
23 Apr 1947
Born
She has lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
Who governed
Prime Minister of Italy, 1946–1947 · Italian Republic
Prime Minister of Italy, 1948–1950 · Italian Republic
President of Italy, 1948–1955 · Italian Republic
What people wore
Women’s Distinctive Party Uniforms
Female party members wore uniforms consisting of white blouses under dark blue tailored suits, which always included skirts rather than trousers. The regime did not permit women to wear the iconic black shirt, which was reserved exclusively for men.
Daily life
Cramped sleeping and cold winters
Sleeping arrangements were often cramped, with some families sharing a single bed among many people or using mattresses filled with cornhusks or sheep wool that felt as hard as a rock. In cold weather, they relied on warmers, such as the prete or trabiccolo, to heat their beds.
What it cost
Food and clothing prices in 1940
In 1940, a kilogram of bread cost 1.60 lire, while a kilogram of beef cost 7 lire and a pair of shoes cost at least 30 lire.
Around the world · 1939–1945The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.
In the news1946
In 1946, Italian voters chose to abolish the monarchy in a referendum, leading to the birth of the Republic.
Music
Radio opera in rural homes
Rural families listened to opera broadcasts on the radio at home, treating the experience as a theatrical event.
At the table
Skyrocketing black market prices in 1944
During the food crisis of 1944 in Rome, black market prices soared, with olive oil reaching 1,200 lire and meat 160 lire per kilogram by the end of March.