Museo Storico Giuseppe Garibaldi (Giuseppe Garibaldi History Museum), Como

In May 1859, the general of the Roman Republic Giuseppe Garibaldi and his Hunters of the Alps, military corps, left the town of Varese and approached the mountain pass at San Fermo. They cornered the Austro-Hungarians at the church of San Fermo. Attacking from three sides, the Italians suffered 14 killed. Despite these losses, the Italians quickly routed the Austro-Hungarians.

Austrian General Urban launched counterattacks up the steep road from Como. They failed. The next day, as the Italians slowly descended into Como, they found that Urban and his forces had decamped, never to return. Items of interest relating to the Battle of San Fermo are now on display in the Giuseppe Garibaldi Museum in Como.

Located in the 15th-century Olginati Palace (Palazzo Olginati) in Como, the museum was established in 1932 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Giuseppe Garibaldi's death. It is dedicated to general Garibaldi and his role in the Unification of Italy. Shortly after opening, it was joined to the Archaeological Museum in the Paolo Giovo building (palazzo Paolo Giovo) with two covered walkways. Together, they form the two "Civic Museums" of Como.

The museum mainly comprises two sections: the first is dedicated to the historical events of the Unification of Italy (Risorgimento), the main stages of Como and Italian history, from the first rebellions through the wars of independence, and the figure of Garibaldi. The second section includes fabrics, clothing items, furnishings, and other objects that document aspects of Italian life between the seventeenth and twentieth centuries.