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 10 Jun 1949
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10 Jun 1949
Born
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Who governed
Prime Minister of Italy, 1948–1950 · Italian Republic
President of Italy, 1948–1955 · Italian Republic
What people wore
The Single Sunday Suit
Country men owned only one dark suit for feast days and weddings, which was passed down through generations and frequently resoled when the leather shoes wore out.
Daily life
Limited access to basic utilities
Many homes lacked electricity or running water; families often used lanterns with oil wicks for light and fetched water from public town fountains.
What it cost
Wartime price inflation for bread
Due to the black market during World War II, the price of bread in Turin soared from 2.35 lire in 1941 to 46 lire by 1945.
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
Domestic dancing in working-class homes
Working-class families often hosted dances at home by moving furniture aside to make space, playing music on a gramophone or the radio.
At the table
Meatless days as patriotic duty
To promote autarky, the regime mandated meatless Wednesdays and closed butcher shops on Tuesdays, framing these restrictions as a patriotic duty for consumers.