Italy commemorates 83rd anniversary of fascism’s fall with Pastasciutta antifascista events

Across numerous Italian towns, the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI) and local partners marked the 83rd anniversary of the fall of the fascist regime with free “Pastasciutta antifascista” gatherings. The tradition, originating on 25 July 1943 when the Cervi family in Campegine distributed pasta to celebrate Mussolini’s ouster, now serves as a symbolic communal meal that links historical memory with contemporary civic engagement.

Events this year included a ceremony in Santarcangelo's municipal square, a fifth‑edition dinner in Pontedecimo organized with CGIL and ANPI, a series of cooperative‑led meals in Lombardy (Legacoop), and similar gatherings in Casorezzo, Rimini, Verghera, and Canceglie. Many evenings combined the free pasta with live music, theatre performances and film screenings, reinforcing democratic values and the legacy of the Italian Resistance.

Organisers stress that the recurring meals aim to educate new generations about the dangers of authoritarianism while celebrating liberty, solidarity and the enduring spirit of the Resistance throughout Italy.