How Rome became Italy’s capital: The Breach of Porta Pia
Discover the story behind the Breach of Porta Pia on 20 September 1870: the moment Rome became part of a unified Italy.
When did Rome become the capital of Italy?
Ever wondered how Rome became Italy’s capital? Rome officially became the capital of Italy on February 3, 1871, following the capture of the city on September 20, 1870. On that day, Italian troops broke through the Aurelian Walls near Porta Pia and took control of the city from the Papal States. This historic event is known as the Breach of Porta Pia, or the Capture of Rome. It marked the end of centuries of Papal rule and the beginning of Rome as the capital of a modern, unified Italy.
How Rome became Italy’s capital
By 1870, most of the Italian peninsula had been unified under the Kingdom of Italy. Only Rome remained under Papal control, protected by French troops. But when France pulled its soldiers out during the Franco-Prussian War, Italy saw the chance to take action.
On the morning of 20 September, after a brief bombardment, Italian forces breached the Aurelian Walls of Rome, near Porta Pia, in the Nomentano district. The Papal forces, outnumbered and outgunned, offered limited resistance. The battle was short, but symbolic.
By the afternoon, Rome had surrendered. Pope Pius IX retired to the Vatican, refusing to recognize the new Kingdom. The city was annexed into Italy, and in 1871, Rome officially became the capital.
Before Rome, where was Italy’s capital?
Before Rome became the capital of the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1871, two other cities held the title: Turin and Florence. Rome was still under Papal control during the early years of unification, so the young Kingdom had to settle elsewhere.
Here’s a quick look at Italy’s capitals before Rome:
- Turin (1861–1865)
The first capital of the newly unified Italy, Turin was the heart of the Risorgimento, the movement that led to unification. As the former capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, it naturally became the political and cultural center of the new state. - Florence (1865–1871)
The capital then moved to Florence, chosen for its more central location and as part of an agreement with France, which sought to ease tensions over the status of Rome. - Rome (1871–Present)
After the Breach of Porta Pia and the capture of the city from the Papal States in 1870, Rome was officially named the capital the following year. It has remained Italy’s capital ever since.
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