Ossuary Monument of Roman Wailing
The Shrine of Pianto Romano is a mausoleum that houses the remains of Garibaldi's volunteers and Bourbon soldiers who fell in the battle that was fought on May 15, 1860 along the western slope of this hill.
The battle lasted about four hours and it ended when the Garibaldians causing the retreat of the Bourbon soldiers towards Calatafimi. Among Garibaldi's volunteers there were 41 dead and probably thirty among the Neapolitan soldiers. The bodies of the fallen were left on the battlefield and later buried in a mass grave marked by a cross. The current mausoleum was built only after 32 years.
This battle was remembered by Garibaldi with the words: Calatafimi, a hundred fists left, if at my last breath my friends see me smile for the last time of pride, it will be remembering you: since I do not remember a more glorious battle.
The monument was built in 1892, based on a project by the architect Ernesto Basile. It has the shape of an obelisk and is 30 meters high, has a square base, with horizontally sloping walls, crowned by a frieze and a Doric frame with acroteria at the corners, and connected by means of steps to a high obelisk and ashlars. It is adorned with a bronze crown with the Trinacria and two palms. On the sides there are two bronze groups by Battista Tassara, of the Thousand, depicting the landing of Marsala and the battle of Calatafimi. The stairway that advances on the prospectus goes up to the Ossuary.
At the end of the avenue of cypresses, Viale della Rimembranza, on 15 May 1960 a stele was placed which bears the famous words spoken by Garibaldi to Nino Bixio: < em>Here you make Italy or you die.
