Bronze medal 1st Fiftieth anniversary of the death of Don Giovanni Verita '

Giovanni Verità, known as "Don Zvàn" (Modigliana, February 18, 1807 - Modigliana, November 26, 1885), 
was an Italian presbyter, a critic of the temporal power held by the Pope during the Risorgimento.
Ordained a priest in 1829, enrolled in Giovine Italia the following year, he openly sided with the 
Carbonari and participated in several popular uprisings, which is why his figure was much discussed.

Don Giovanni helped, during the Risorgimento, many conspirators, recovering them thanks to fake hunting
 trips in the forests around Modigliana, which became a place of escape - as (until 1859) belonging to 
the more tolerant Grand Duchy of Tuscany - for the patriots pursued by the guards of the Papal State.

The priest helped the escape of Giuseppe Garibaldi and Giovanni Battista Culiolo (alias "captain Leggero" [1]),
 his lieutenant, pursued by the Austrians. On the night of August 21, 1849, Don Giovanni met them on
 Mount Trebbio and then hid them in his own house in Modigliana, from where they could then reach Livorno
 to embark.

When he died on November 26, 1885, he was denied a religious funeral, given his non-obedience to the Pope.

His house where he was born now houses the «Don Giovanni Verità Municipal Museum», dedicated to his figure.