Writing a history of broken continuity: representations of nation and the one hundred years of Italian unification celebrations

Abstract

One hundred years of united Italy were of ficially celebrated in 1961 with an exposition named ‘Italia ’61’. Held in united Italy ’s first capital, the northern city of Turin, and comprising three major exhibitions, Historical, Regional and International, the common themes selected were unity, continuity and w ork, and emphasis was placed on conveying an understanding that the process of nati on- building was complete. While the Regional and International exhibitions were constru cted in the new Italia ’61 Park, the Historical Exhibition was shown in the Palazzo Cari gnano in the historic centre of the city. In the late-1950s, a curatorial team was appointed and charged with narrating the history of Italian unification in such a way that was befit ting for the new Republic of Italy. This article is a study of the Historical Exhibition at Italia ’61 and it questions the extent of ‘regime’ change that took place in Republican Italy.