Romolo Gessi (30 April 1831 – 1 May 1881), also called Gessi Pasha, was an Italian soldier and an explorer of north-east Africa, especially Sudan and the Nile River. Gessi was born in Ravenna, in Romagna. He acquired his military experience serving in the volunteer corps of Garibaldi in 1859 and 1860. He was one of numerous Garibaldi volunteers who went on to be regular soldiers, not only in the new Italian army, but in several others. After his death, his son Felice published his father's memoirs in the book, Sette anni nel Sudan egiziano (Milano, 1891).