Army Day: Bari at the centre of celebrations from 1 to 4 May

From 1 to 4 May 2025, the city of Bari will host the official celebrations for the 164th anniversary of the founding of the Italian Armyan anniversary that combines tradition, national pride and popular participation. Indeed, the date of 4 May recalls a fundamental moment in our history: in 1861, the Minister of War Manfredo Fanti decreed the end of the Armata Sarda and the birth of the Regio Esercitoofficially sanctioning the establishment of what is now the Italian Army.

"In view of the law of 17 March 1861, by which HM assumed the title of King of Italy, the undersigned hereby informs all the Authorities, Corps and Military Offices that henceforth the Royal Army shall take the name Esercito Italiano, the old name Armata Sarda being abolished".
- Signed Manfredo Fanti, Minister of War

The Army Village and the square party

To worthily celebrate this important milestone, Bari will welcome the "Army Villagetransforming the heart of the city into an open-air exhibition of the Armed Forces' main assets.

Sure, here is a more generic version of the paragraph:

Citizens will be able to get closer to the military world through exhibitions, demonstrations and interactive activities designed for all ages. There will also be information stands and spaces dedicated to the history of the Army.

Throughout the event there will also be Army Radio, the official web radio of the Armed Forces, ready to welcome guests, report live on the event and involve the audience in games, music and interviews.

Parking and traffic restrictions: watch out

To allow the smooth running of the celebrations, the Bari Local Police has set up a long series of parking and traffic restrictions, which will affect many areas of the city centre, particularly those adjacent to the waterfront and the main squares involved.

Starting 25 April until 5 May 2025will be in force on prohibition of stopping on via N. Sauro, via Arcivescovo Vaccaro, via Matteotti, via Gorizia and many other streets. In some cases, the bans will also be active h24until the end of disassembly operations.

In particular:

• The 28 April, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., will trigger transit bans on a large part of the waterfront and neighbouring streets.
• The 29 Aprilin the morning between 00.01 and 09.00are envisaged stop and transit bans on Quay San Nicola, Lung.re A. Di Crollalanza and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.
• The 30 April, still closures from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on all streets adjacent to the coastal area.
• The 1 May, a public holiday, the bans will concern via River e Corso Cavour (East parking area).
• The 2 May, from 00.01 to 16.00, will be concerned Diaz Square, via Matteotti e Via Caduti del 28 luglio 1943.
• The 5 Mayfinal day, we will return to a phase of targeted bans from 00.01 to 09.00with the interest of San Nicola Quay, longitude Di Crollalanza e IV November square.

Finally, for logistical and operational reasons, 29 April to 5 May will be the transit of military vehicles with a mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes is permitted within a specifically identified perimeter.

For more information, we invite our readers to visit the link of the Municipality of Bari.

A festival combining tradition, technology and participation

The celebration of the 164th anniversary of the founding of the Italian Army is not only a historical commemoration. It is also an opportunity for today's citizen to approaching the military worldoften perceived as distant, discovering their values, skills, commitment and modernity.

The Italian Army, in fact, today more than ever, is a living reality, made up of uniformed professionals who operate daily both on national territory and in international missions, with a strong technological, training and humanitarian component.

In this sense, the Army Village in Bari represents a bridge between past and future, between the glorious history of an institution born in the heart of the Risorgimento and contemporary challenges, including the defence of peace and international cooperation.

Bari is therefore preparing to welcome with pride and participation the Army Day 2025transforming the heart of the city into a meeting point for citizens and military personnel. An opportunity to reflect on our roots, honour the service of Italian soldiers and renew a bond that has been a pillar of national identity for 164 years.

Happy Army Day to all!

Source: https://www.comune.bari.it/-/164-anniversario-della-fondazione-dell-esercito-italiano-da-domani-25-aprile-limitazioni-al-traffico-e-alla-sosta