ThefilmshowshowItaly'shistoricnationalheroGiuseppeGaribaldi(embodiedbyRenzoRicci)leadsamilitarycampaignknownasExpeditionoftheThousandin1860andconquersSicilyandNaples.WhentheBourbonmonarchyhasleftSouthernItaly,hesupportsVictorEmmanuelIIofItalywhoachievesalastingunificationundertheaegistheHouseofSavoy.
RobertoRossellinistatedhewasverymoreproudofthisfilmthanofanyotherfilmheevermade.
