Desenzano and Antibes Celebrate Twinning with European Cultural and Civic Events
A dive into friendship to get to know each other and become European citizens. This slogan perhaps encapsulates the meaning of the twinning that from today until Sunday will unite two towns with much in common: Desenzano and Antibes Juan-les-Pins, on the French Riviera. Water, a strong tourist connotation, similar history and culture—perhaps these three or four elements of comparison are enough to demonstrate how much the twinning between these two enchanting holiday destinations has significant points of convergence.
Desenzano, therefore, opens its doors today to the French delegation, reciprocating the hospitality received last April, when a Garda region delegation visited the “pearl” of the French Riviera. Throughout this weekend, with Desenzano decorated for the occasion, with flags of the European Union, France, and Italy, the twinning will be officially celebrated with the signing of the Charter.
Program and Ceremony
The appointment is scheduled for 5 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, October 6, in Piazza Malvezzi (in case of bad weather, the ceremony will take place inside the Tourism Palace), preceded by a concert by the local Banda. The evening will end with a gala at Park Hotel, where the hotel’s renowned chefs have prepared a European-style lunch.
The day after tomorrow, Sunday, will be mainly dedicated to visiting the Risorgimento sites where the French fought, with severe losses, alongside the Piedmontese in 1859. The Antibes delegation, expected this morning, is composed of Mayor Jean Leonetti, who is also a member of the French parliament and a doctor, the president of the local tourism company, representatives of trade associations, and students: about forty people in total.
Personalities and Delegations
The presence of Italian political and institutional figures is considerable: Members of the European Parliament Raffaele Costa and Mario Mantovani, France’s Consul General Alain Rouillarc, Senator Francesco Tirelli, deputies Francesco Tolotti, Emilio Del Bono, and Adriano Paroli, Regional Councilor Franco Nicoli Cristiani on behalf of Lombardy Region, then the President of the Province Cavalli with assessors Buffoli and Parolini, the Prefect of Brescia, and numerous mayors from the area, as well as the president of ACI Brescia and the entire Desenzano City Council.
Finally, there will be the Mayor of Amberg (Germany) and a delegation from the Austrian city of Wiener Neustadt, also approaching twinning with Desenzano. The details of the busy schedule of events were presented by assessors Giuliano Garagna and Mario Marchioni, who worked diligently with the twinning committee to organize the program.
Future Initiatives and Events
A three-day period not only of visits and cultural exchanges, but mainly the launch of a series of initiatives that, in the form of twinning, may have a future role. For instance, the two hotel association presidents will meet to study promotional activities for stays at discounted rates. And there will be cultural exchanges as well.
The event will be kicked off by the young cyclists of the Gruppo sportivo San Martino della Battaglia, who will go to Antibes on October 20 to participate in an amateur race. The three days have been supported by Calzedonia, Centro Gamma, Plasticwork, Coop “La Primula”, Fiat, Grana Padano, and Selvoline.
