On this day in 1864, one of the most famous leaders of the “Risorgimento” (Italian unification) General Giuseppe Garibaldi made a brief two‑day stop in Malta.Garibaldi, then 57 years old, was returning from his home island of Caprera to England when the paddle steamer Valletta of the P&O Line entered Marsamxett Harbour shortly after 2 am on 23rd March during Holy Week.On board were Garibaldi and his sons, Menotti and Ricciotti, who had embarked two days earlier en route to Southampton.He took up lodgings at the Imperial Hotel in Valletta’s St Lucia Street, later known as the St James Hotel, and intended a quiet 36‑hour stay before continuing his journey. At this point he was still suffering from a wound received at Aspromonte and spent the entirety of his visit confined to his hotel. News of his arrival nevertheless spread rapidly, surprising many on the island.Reports from contemporary Maltese newspapers, including The Malta Times and United Services Gazette, L’Ordine, Il Mediterraneo and Il Portafoglio Maltese, reveal sharply divided opinions of Garibaldi’s presence. Praises ranged from “illustrious traveller” and “the Italian hero and patriot” to harsher descriptions such as “adventurer”, “enemy of the papacy and of the Church” and “brigand”.After the unification of Italy in 1861, Malta’s liberal exiles had mostly returned home, and were replaced by Sicilian supporters of the ousted Bourbon monarchy. These, estimated at about 200 in number, formed the main opposition to Garibaldi’s visit and were backed by strong ultra‑Catholic sentiment viewing him as an enemy of the Pope. Nonetheless, liberal Maltese citizens and English residents and soldiers on the island generally welcomed him.Throughout his short stay, Garibaldi received a steady stream of courtesy calls from prominent figures, introduced by Italian revolutionary Nicola Fabrizi and Maltese host Baron Emilio Sceberras. His appearance on the hotel balcony was greeted by applause from a crowd that included both supporters and detractors, though public dissent was largely kept in check.On the evening of his first day, Menotti Garibaldi accompanied by Maltese and British friends accepted invitations to visit the Casino della Borsa and the Casino Maltese, receiving enthusiastic receptions in public spaces.Garibaldi’s departure from Malta took place on 24th March. Before leaving, Baroness Testaferrata Abela read an address signed by roughly 300 well‑wishers expressing respect and affection for the general. Large crowds gathered as he left the Imperial Hotel. Offered a carriage by the wife and daughter of Admiral Austin, Garibaldi was taken via a quieter route to the quay at Sa Maison in Marsamxett Harbour to avoid the main throngs.He boarded the P&O paddle steamer Ripon, which had just arrived from Alexandria, and was warmly seen off by a group of men on the tug Bulldog, their cheers echoed from the steamer as Garibaldi departed for England.L’Ordine’s account, however, reported that no public carriage could be hired for Garibaldi, that only a small group of 30–40 supporters saw him off from a tugboat, and that these supporters were themselves booed upon returning.Thus ended Garibaldi’s brief visit to Malta, arranged by an unnamed English gentleman. He reached Gibraltar on 29th March and arrived safely in Southampton on 3rd April.Tag a history buffCredit: Stefano Lecchi •