Garibaldi a Cetona

3 July 1849: Garibaldi, Anita and four thousand men leave Rome to reach the Tyrrhenian or Adriatic coasts and embark for the Republic of Venice, besieged by the Austrians. Fleeing northward over the Cassia, past the border at Acquapendente (more likely than at Salci) between the Papal States and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the General and his army must evade the surveillance of enemy troops. They urgently need to continue, but move cautiously by proceeding in small steps. Then, after the junction at Polacco they enter Celle sul Rigo, then San Casciano dei Bagni and descend to Piazze, where, they say, Garibaldi watered his horse at the source of Casa Piero along the road to Cetona.

It is night, it’s raining, the soldiers and horses need rest, Anita is exhausted.

Arriving in Cetona, Garibaldi and his wife are guests of the Gonfaloniere Rodolfo Gigli, while the Garibaldians find refuge in the gardens of Terrosi Park. From 16 to 18 July the entire community of Cetona works to offer them provisions, good wine, forage for the horses and armaments. The women of Cetona also give Anita an elegant green silk dress.

After three days, however, the General and his army must continue. As usual, a patrol goes on ahead, when at Palazzo Tosoni along the road to Chiusi, some peasants attack it with the cry of “Viva Maria”. A young Garibaldian dies in the ambush. The episode bears witness to the strong hostility of the citizens of Chiusi, incited – according to some authors – by Bishop Ciofi and Archpriest Leandri, against Garibaldi and his army, who were considered thieves and brigands, guilty of having driven the Pope from Rome.

In retaliation, the General and his army confiscated food from the convents in the area; some friars were kidnapped and released later as they continued their journey north.

Garibaldi returned to Cetona once again on 23 August 1867, a guest of the Terrosi family, while he was organising a new military expedition to free Rome from the pontifical government. At Palazzo Tosoni, eighteen years after the tragic events, volunteers and armaments were gathered ready to go and fight for and with Garibaldi, this time.