Beyond “Bella Ciao”: 4 Songs of the Italian Resistance

| Wed, 04/26/2023 - 06:20

an observer admires photos of Italian partisans killed during the resistance, Bologna

In Bologna, an observer admires photos of Italian partisans killed during the resistance / Photo: Andy Davies via Shutterstock

The perennially popular Italian folk tune “Bella Ciao” has roots in 19th-century farm laborer protests in northern Italy, but this simple yet stirring hymn has become indelibly linked with the Italian Resistance, symbolizing anti-fascist values and partisan efforts to liberate Italy from German occupation.

Beyond the ubiquitous “Bella Ciao,” however, are many other fascinating songs inspired by tragic episodes and compelling stories of the era. Ranging in subject matt