Pier Fortunato Calvi monument (patriot) in Pieve di Cadore

After the Congress of Vienna in 1815 the Veneto region was in the hands of Austria and would remain under its dominion until 1866, as part of the Regno Lombardo-Veneto. The Veneto participated in the Italian Risorgimento most generously: the Bandiera and Moro brothers, shot in 1821, the year in which many centres rebelled, were Venetians. In 1848 the entire region rose up against the Austrians (except for Verona, Peschiera and Legnago, strongholds of the famous Quadrilateral). In Venice Daniele Manin proclaimed the Republic and the people forced the Austrians to abandon the city on March 21, 1848. The same occurred in others cities and in Cadore (with Pier Fortunato Calvi): in July, when Piedmont entered the war, all of the Veneto supported and proclaimed its annexation. With the victory of Novara, however, Austria regained the upper hand. Led by Daniele Manin and Tommaseo, Venice resisted desperately for nearly 5 months, yielding at last only to hunger and cholera. Finally, when Prussia defeated Austria in 1866, the Veneto was freed. A triumphant plebiscite (674, 426 favourable votes, 69 contrary) decreed the annexation of the region to the Kingdom of Italy.