June 2nd, it rains on Republic Day in Rome

The highest authorities have arrived at the Altare della Patria. It's time for the national anthem and the tribute to the Unknown Soldier

ROME – A Republic Day in the rain and in the cool, so different from the sunny June 2nd of recent years. Piazza Venezia is also different with the construction sites in progress and the crane lifting the white sheet with the olive tree and the star, the coat of arms of the Italian Republic. The highest authorities have arrived at the Altare della Patria. It’s time for the national anthem and the tribute to the Unknown Soldier. In front of the joint defense band, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella and the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto: and then the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the President of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri. A respite from the rain, after the arrival of the first authorities, allows the climb towards the shrine of the Unknown Soldier to lay the laurel wreath and it is the moment to honor the fallen. The Frecce Tricolori flyover arrives on time.