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Origin and history

The monument to Garibaldi, located in Place Garibaldi in Nice, was commissioned by the city in 1882 at the announcement of the death of the Italian general. A public subscription was launched, but its limited success delayed the project. The site was finally chosen in 1885, and the sculptor Antoine Etex, selected to carry out the work, began the draft. However, he died in 1888 before completing it, as did entrepreneur Dominique Ciotti, in charge of the pedestal. Gustave Deloye then took over, changing the pedestal for technical reasons and adding two bronze lions.

The monument was inaugurated on October 4, 1891, after three years of additional work. It depicts Garibaldi in a red shirt, looking at Turin, its symbolic city, with a sword and a tight fist. At its base, a bronze allegorical group illustrates France and Italy looking after the cradle of Garibaldi child. The lions, placed on both sides, symbolize two of his sons, Menotti and Riciotti, while cannons engraved from 1860 and 1870 recall his military campaigns. The square base, decorated with bows and medallions representing his grandsons, also evokes his maritime heritage.

In 2007, the monument was moved 18 metres to allow the construction of line 1 of the Nice tramway, also reducing the size of the surrounding basin. Ranked as historical monuments in 2009, it remains a symbol of the links between Nice and Italy, celebrated each year until the 1970s by sheaves deposits in memory of Garibaldi. The square, renowned in his honour since 1870, underscores the historical importance of this character for the city, marked by its attachment to France in 1860 after centuries under Savoyard domination.

The monument thus combines artistic elements, such as the allegories of both nations or lions, with precise historical references, such as dates engraved on the cannons. These details reflect both Garibaldi's military role and his attachment to Nice, his hometown. The restored and protected work continues to bear witness to this pivotal period of the 19th century, when national and local identities were redefined in Europe.

The historical sources, notably the works of Maurice Agulhon or Jérôme Grévy, underline the symbolic importance of this monument in the collective memory of Nice. It embodies a form of identity resistance and local pride, in a city then in full integration with France. The changes made in 2007, although practical, generated debate on heritage preservation in a changing urban context.

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