Rome is preparing to celebrate the 79th Republic Day with a packed schedule of solemn and spectacular events. The day of Monday, June 2nd will open, as tradition dictates, with the tribute of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella to the Unknown Soldier, at 9:15 AM, at the Altare della Patria. Following this, the Head of State will receive the presentation of the Units on Via di San Gregorio and will preside from the grandstand of honor on Via dei Fori Imperiali at the Military Parade, scheduled from 10:00 AM.
The ceremony, which will involve over 5,800 participants including military and civilians, will feature 180 vehicles, 64 war banners, and the presence of all components of the State: Armed Forces, Police Forces, Firefighters, Civil Protection, Red Cross, and civilian Defense personnel. This year's motto, “In Defense of the Republic, at the Service of the Country,” aims to highlight the growing importance of the operational and civilian role of the Italian military, both at home and abroad.
Frecce Tricolori and Open Museums
Among the most anticipated moments, the flyover of the Frecce Tricolori, scheduled around 9:30 AM at the opening and again between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, at the end of the parade. Ten Aermacchi MB-339 with the national acrobatic patrol will color the sky above the Altare della Patria.
In addition to the parade, Republic Day is accompanied by a Sunday and Monday of state museums and archaeological parks open for free, visitable during usual hours.
In the afternoon of June 2nd, the Quirinale Gardens will be open from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM, reserved for the most vulnerable segments of the population. The performance of the interforce band and regional youth choirs is planned. The Torrino del Quirinale will be illuminated with the Tricolor from the 1st to the evening of June 2nd.
The Future on the March: Debut of the Fenice and the Lynx
This year, the military parade is enriched with an absolute novelty: the public debut of two next-generation weapon systems. Leading the way into modernity, the new reconnaissance and escort helicopter AH-249 “Fenice” and the armored combat vehicle Lynx KF-41, protagonists of the digital transformation of the Armed Forces.
The Fenice, destined to replace the glorious Mangusta AH-129, is a helicopter conceived as an interconnected platform: equipped with advanced sensors, drone interface, real-time communications, and a pilot helmet in augmented reality. It is the first next-generation combat helicopter produced in Italy, designed to operate in high-intensity scenarios.
Alongside it, on the ground, the Lynx KF-41, an armored vehicle with high protection, mobility, and digitization capabilities. The result of collaboration with Rheinmetall, the Lynx represents a technological leap for the Italian mechanized infantry.
Their presence at the parade is not just symbolic: it is the tangible signal of a Defense projecting towards the conflicts of the future, where cyberspace, robotics, and operational resilience will be decisive.
Maximum security measures have been arranged by the Police Headquarters, Civil Protection, and Armed Forces to ensure the regular conduct of the event, which will be broadcast live on Rai 1 starting at 9:00 AM.
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