Point of interest

The museum was inaugurated on the occasion of the Festa della Bandiera, an event of Risorgimento to which the community of Castelnovese is particularly attached. On 24th June 1866, a date known for the Battle of Custoza, the “Forli” Brigade (43rd and 44th infantry regiments) heading towards Castelnuovo was attacked by Austrian light cavalry. A group of soldiers occupied Benati House in Oliosi and resisted until the Austrians set fire to it. Before surrendering, Officers and soldiers of the “Forlì” divided the banner into vertical strips, which everyone hid under their uniforms. Of the probable 13 pieces, 11 were later recovered and the reassembled flag was returned to the 44th regiment.

Oliosi’s flag is kept in the Sacrarium of Flags, inside the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (Altare della Patria – Il Vittoriano) in Rome: on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, on 2 June 2011, Oliosi’s flag was paraded through the Imperial Forums, opening the “Military Review” or “Parade”, during the annual Republic Day.