The arrival between the crowd, the visit to the city on the notes of “Romagna Mia” and the meeting with flooded farmers. So the British Real spent the last day in Italy
From the ancient capital of the Byzantine empire to capital for one day of the British Real. Ravenna welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla with great enthusiasm, between imposing security measures and the attention of the international media. Accompanied by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, Carlo and Camilla concluded their official trip to Italy, also celebrating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the province of Ravenna from Nazi -fascism.
Before leaving Rome, the Royal had participated in a meeting in Villa Wolkonsky with the representatives of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance. Then, in the heart of Romagna, they found a warm welcome from local citizens and institutions. “It is a great honor and a reason for pride, a great opportunity both for our artistic heritage and for the productions of Emilia-Romagna excellence,” commented the president of the Emilia-Romagna region, Michele De Pascale.
Tribute to Dante: Visit to the tomb and song of the Divine Comedy
The Ravenna tour began in Piazza San Francesco, where Carlo and Camilla greeted citizens and tourists, tightening hands and collecting applause. Accompanied by the acting mayor of Ravenna, Fabio Sbaraglia, and by President De Pascale, the sovereigns witnessed the execution of the British and Italian national hymns, intended by the school choir of the Mordani school.
Before accessing Dante’s tomb, the real listened to the children of the elementary school singing verses of the Divine comedy. The visit was led by Silvia Pagliano, Dante’s expert and artistic director of the Teatro delle Albe, who introduced the reading of the Canto XXXIII of Paradise. Subsequently, Carlo and Camilla witnessed an interactive performance by Ermanna Montanari, actress and co -founder of the Albe Theater.
After meeting Maria Grazia Marini, director of the tourist services of the Municipality, the Royal visited the interior of Dante’s tomb, and then returned to Piazza San Francesco. Here the local band has intoned the famous song Romagna mia While Carlo and Camilla dismissed from those present.
Camilla at the Byron Museum, Carlo in the wonder of mosaics
The program then continued with separate visits: King Carlo went to the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, two of the masterpieces of early Christian art, famous for extraordinary mosaics and the starry vault. To welcome him, the bishop of Ravenna Lorenzo Ghizzoni and other ecclesiastical authorities, in addition to the entrepreneur Federico Marchetti: “The decision to come to Ravenna is his, on the occasion of the eighty years for the liberation of the city from Nazi -fascism. I am a small card in a large mosaic ».
Queen Camilla, on the other hand, visited Palazzo Guiccioli, home of the byron Museum, dedicated to the life and works of the English poet.
The meeting with farmers flooded
In the afternoon, Carlo and Camilla reached the Town Hall to participate, together with Mattarella, to the extraordinary city council dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Ravenna. In Piazza del Popolo, many people gathered to greet the royal couple.
After the institutional ceremony, the real met the farmers affected by the flood and visited a Slow Food garrison, where there were no convivial moments.
Between Browse, Parmesan and Sangiovese, the real discover local excellence
Accompanied by the chef Massimo BotturaCarlo and Camilla walked among the stands of the local market. The king observed with curiosity to the sfogline at work, while Camilla personally tried to pull the sheet. Bottura said: «They are extraordinary people who love Italy a lot. They love Italian cuisine and they wanted to taste everything, especially the parmesan splinters with the balsamic vinegar of Modena aged 50 years “.
Also the chef Carlo Cracco He shared a fun anecdote: “I had made them try the Welsh angel ham that I revisited using a typical product of the territory: the Sangiovese that we produce visible sea in Sant’Arcangelo”. Cracco then paid homage to the sovereigns with a personalized bottle of Sangiovese, decorated by the street artist Eron, a friend of Banksy.
The final greeting from Ravenna
The Ravenna visit ended with the official greetings in Piazza del Popolo. King Carlo, Queen Camilla, President Mattarella and his daughter Laura left Ravenna by greeting local authorities and citizens, before getting on their respective cars and taking leave of the city which, for a day, was the perfect stage to conclude this historic state visit.
