Celebrating over twenty years of European civic friendship, an official Wiener Neustadt Delegation Visits Desenzano del Garda to explore community-led disability services and establish joint cultural frameworks across the southern shores of the lake.
Wiener Neustadt, a historic Lower Austrian city of forty thousand residents located fifty kilometres south of Vienna, has maintained an official municipal twinning pact with Desenzano del Garda since 2002. On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, an official delegation headed by City Councillor for Tourism, Culture, Integration, and Security Franz Piribauer was welcomed at the day centres operated by Anffas Desenzano.
Exploring Vocational Workshops and Creative Rehabilitation
Accompanied by Mario Marchioni, President of the Desenzano Twinning Committee, the Austrian delegates were guided through the specialized facilities by Maurizio Maffi, President of Anffas Desenzano. The visit highlighted daily therapeutic and vocational activities provided for individuals with intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The delegation observed active artisan workshops where attendees produce intricate glass decorations, canvas paintings, choral music, and precision quality controls on optical eyewear. In an authentic cross-border exchange, Laura, an Anffas self-advocate, welcomed the visitors in German, presenting a first-hand account of the community routines and personal independence fostered within the centre.
Expanding Cross-Border Civic Partnerships
Councillor Piribauer commended the professional dedication of the local educators, comparing Desenzano’s rehabilitation models with public welfare structures in Lower Austria. Both municipal teams agreed to broaden the scope of the bilateral twinning agreement beyond tourism and protocol visits, establishing direct operational exchanges between Austrian and Italian social workers.
The initiative highlights how long-standing European sister-city alliances contribute to civic solidarity, reinforcing international bonds across one of Lake Garda’s most prominent cultural gateways.
