暴风雨后，一群海难幸存者流落到了阿西纳拉岛，他们身份各异：四名卡莫拉黑手党囚犯，两名看守前者的狱警，四名流浪剧团成员。其中三位黑手党逼迫剧团团长奥雷斯特·卡姆培瑟将他们冒充成剧团成员，以躲避监狱长的追捕。监狱长德·卡洛生性多疑，立马察觉到卡姆培瑟剧团可能包庇了海难中幸存的黑手党逃犯。

弗朗西斯和克劳迪娅是一对好朋友，他是一个律师，她是一个兽医。他们之间无话不谈，直到约翰的出现。克劳迪娅决定嫁给约翰，这时候弗朗西斯才发现自己对克劳迪娅的感情不仅仅是友情。

1860. Giuseppe Garibaldi began from Quarto the adventure of the Thousand surrounded by the enthusiasm of the young idealists who had come from all regions of Italy, and with his loyal group of officers, among whom a new profile stands out, that of Palermo Colonel Vincenzo Giordano Orsini. Among the many militiamen recruited were two Sicilians, Domenico Tricò, a farmer who had emigrated to the North, and Rosario Spitale, an illusionist. Having landed in Sicily, at Marsala, the Thousand begin fighting with the Bourbon army, whose numerical preponderance is immediately evident. Under these conditions, it appears almost impossible for the general to breach the enemy defense and penetrate Palermo. But when he is almost forced to retreat, Garibaldi devises an ingenious plan.