This episode of the Real Life in Italy is answering the question: who the hell were Garibaldi and Cavour anyway?

These names are everywhere we look in Italy. It’s because these two characters were key players in the Italian Unification - the Risorgimento. There’s a long, long history lesson behind that, but today, let’s take it easy and just get to know your new Italian (er or are they French?) friends: Giuseppe Garibaldi and Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour.

I’m joined by fellow American in Italy Verity Pryor-Harden, who just like you was curious about who these men were and what their deal was. Well I’m here to tell you.

Disclaimer, in case you had any doubt: I am far from a historian, I am not an expert. And I am WELL aware the stories of the Risorgimento, Garibaldi, and Cavour go far beyond this 101.

I’m just another expat in Italy, trying to understand Italian culture and history, and make sense of life in Italy.

Welcome to the Real Life in Italy.

00:00 Discovering Italy's Unification Heroes: Garibaldi and Cavour 02:56 Exploring the Risorgimento: Italy's Path to Unification 04:58 Garibaldi's Early Life 17:22 The Expedition of the Thousand: Sicily's Conquest 24:24 Garibaldi's March North: The Conquest of Naples 26:37 Garibaldi's Legacy and the Unification of Italy 27:52 The Rivalry Between Garibaldi and Cavour 31:17 Cavour's Diplomatic Mastery and Reforms 42:55 Cavour's Influence on Italian Wine Culture 46:24 Reflections on Italian Unification and Regional Identities

Want to nerd out some more about Italian Unification, History, and these guys?

Read These:

Pursuit of Italy

The Force of Destiny

Garibaldi Invention of a Hero

You can follow Verity’s adventures in Arezzzo here:

https://www.instagram.com/verityeph/

Learn more about Evelyn at

www.collineallemontagne.com

www.instagram.com/collinemontagne

You can show your support by buying me a glass of wine, I always appreciate it:

www.buymeacoffee.com/colline