Caterina de’ Medici Hotel School in Gardone Riviera Faces Uncertain Future

The hotel professional institute «Caterina de’ Medici» of Gardone Riviera (principal Adalberto Avanzi, vice Francesco Muscetta) issues a warning. “Hands off the school,” say the teachers and administrative staff. “We ask to be allowed to continue our activities. Unfortunately, contradictory signals arrive, which do not bode well.” There are 260 students, divided into 13 classes: four first-year, three second-year (the two-year general orientation is shared), two third-year (with specializations in cooking, front desk/bar, or secretarial work), two fourth-year, and two fifth-year classes (allowing students to obtain a diploma in tourist services or hospitality). “Pre-registrations have increased. We have 90 students who will attend the first year in 2001/02, and the number of third-years will increase to three. We need at least two more classrooms: we are waiting for a response from Mayor Alessandro Bazzani, who might allow us to use the nearby middle school. We are keeping pace, however…”

More than having to give up the detached section of Desenzano (400 students), possibly merged with Itis of Lonato, the «Caterina de’ Medici» fears being shuffled somewhere else. “We don’t want to end up like a fragile vase, crushed. The hotel school was born here and found the strength to grow.” It was the first of its kind in Lombardy. There was one in Stresa, Piedmont, and another in Abano, Veneto. The idea was conceived during a Mediterranean cruise. It was discussed by Gianni Pedini, the honorable member; the general director at the Ministry of Public Education, Aleardo Sacchetto (later president of Vittoriale, from 1964 to 1974); the owner of the Grand Hotel (Enrico Mizzaro); officials of already established hotel institutes; and Professor Costante Belletti. All agreed that Gardone Riviera would be the ideal setting, and Villa Alba would be the perfect location. There was a hurdle to overcome: the building belonged to Saffa of Milan, the matchstick manufacturing company. The municipality sold part of the park, authorizing the construction of the Eurotel, and with the proceeds, purchased Villa Alba for 40 million lire. Many local tourism operators signed promissory notes, guaranteeing payment. The school opened in 1961 with 23 students. They came from all over the province. Enrollment forms were collected in the town hall’s basement. In the first months, Belletti (the principal) and the students ate together with the construction workers. Kitchens were installed in December. After defining the three sections (Cooking, Bar-Service, and Hotel Secretariat), the following year the students numbered 90. The secret to the immediate success? The arrival of two prominent figures upon retirement: Marino Trigari, maître of the Savoy, and Carlo Paggi, a chef at the Grand Hotel. The latter had served Winston Churchill among his clients. Villa Alba welcomed distinguished guests such as Andrej Gromiko, Russian Foreign Minister; accompanied by Giuseppe Luraghi (Alfa Romeo) and Gino Lucchini; Giovanni Leone, before being elected President of the Republic; and Arnoldo Mondadori, who was granted honorary citizenship. Later, the school moved to its new headquarters and was named «Caterina de’ Medici». Gardone Riviera has been the birthplace of hospitality institutes in Darfo, Bardolino (on the Veronese side of the lake), Brescia city, Itrio, and Desenzano, the only one still under its direct management.