The Garibaldi Estate in Caprera is one of the most evocative and significant sites in Italian history, closely linked to the figure of Giuseppe Garibaldi. It was here that the Hero of Two Worlds spent the final years of his life, devoting himself to a simple existence centred on farming and sheep-rearing, until his death on 2 June 1882. Today, the estate is owned by the Italian State and serves as a museum.

Garibaldi first arrived in Caprera in 1849, coming from Tunis, and in 1855 he purchased half the island thanks to a bequest from his brother. The following year he settled there permanently, initially in a small sheepfold restored with the help of his son Menotti and a few friends. He later had a larger residence built, the famous Casa Bianca, which became the heart of his family life alongside his children, his wife Francesca Armosino and his most trusted associates.

The complex is laid out around a central courtyard, onto which the White House and the farm buildings open. In the centre stands the so-called ‘Clelia’s tree’, a pine planted by Garibaldi in 1867 to mark the birth of his daughter. The White House, simple and linear in design, is built of granite and plastered white; inside, it preserves rooms that have remained almost intact, including the room where the general spent the last days of his life. Here, his deathbed is still visible, protected by a display case, along with the clock stopped at 18:20, the exact time of his passing. The same room also houses a portrait painted by the artist Saverio Altamura.

Next to the main house are other buildings that tell the story of Garibaldi’s daily life. These include his first home, converted from a sheepfold, the so-called ‘iron house’, a prefabricated structure donated by Captain Felice Orrigoni and used as a library, and the areas dedicated to agricultural activities. There is also an old mill, an oven and rooms that now house objects and tools linked to the general’s life.

A short distance from the White House lies the small family cemetery, accessible via a path surrounded by nature. Here lies Garibaldi, buried beneath a large granite boulder, despite having expressed a wish to be cremated. For a century, from 1882 to 1982, his grave was guarded by an honour guard from the Royal Navy, a testament to the historical and symbolic importance of the site.

Today, the Compendio Garibaldino stands as a unique place of remembrance, where history, nature and national identity intertwine, offering visitors an authentic experience in the footsteps of one of the key figures in the unification of Italy.