The story of a U.S. soldier missing in the Tuscan mountains since 1944 has been resolved decades later, linking Florence to the wider memory of the Allied campaign that helped liberate Italy.

From its first prototype in post-war Italy to a worldwide symbol of design and mobility, Vespa celebrates its 80th anniversary with events in Tuscany and beyond.

The city will commemorate the 81st anniversary of Italy’s Liberation on Saturday, 25 April 2026, with institutional events, memorials and cultural initiatives across Florence.

The contemporary opera by John Adams inaugurates the 88th edition of the festival, drawing attention for its subject and staging.