Italy may have provided many significant contributions over the past couple of hundred years, but it is still a young and thriving nation. Italian flags have begun to drape the cities and towns, a vision usually left for sports events and religious parades. Although the Berlusconi government has had its drama, the country still shows its patriotic fervour remembering the importance of the Expedition of The Thousand, a military campaign led by General Giuseppe Garbaldi in 1860 that helped create a unified Italy. This cultural event has not been received with open arms by all of Italy. Mixed feelings remain firm throughout the country, especially between the northern and southern regions. Turin is expected to use these festivities to its fullest, taking center stage as the venue for Esperienza Italia unfolds, beginning on March 17th and continuing for 9 months in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Italian States. In 1861 Italy was recognized as an independent and unified Italy and Turin was the first site of its parliament. As for the rest of the globe, Italy still shines as one of the most influential nations of our time and continues to dazzle the world with its food, fashion and history.