Giuseppe Garibaldi, A Revolutionary in Exile in Tunis

Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–1882), a legendary figure of the Italian Risorgimento, sought refuge in Tunisia in 1835 under the alias “Giuseppe Pane” to escape Italian authorities. Welcomed by the Italian community, he stayed at the Gnecco Palace, built by Genoese merchant Paolo Antonio Gnecco. The palace became a meeting point for exiled Italian patriots and housed the Tunisian section of Giovine Italia, the revolutionary movement fighting for Italian unification. Garibaldi’s presence in Tunis highlights Tunisia’s role as a haven for 19th-century political exiles. Today, a commemorative plaque on rue de la Commission marks his stay.