In a book the extraordinary lives of the Italians of France

Extraordinary lives, which contribute to weaving that unique and indissoluble relationship that unites Italy and France: a large audience attended the presentation of the book 'L'Italia del Père-Lachaise' in Paris. Vies extraordinaires des Italiens de France et des Francais d'Italie ', further evidence - if ever needed - of the eternal bond that binds two cardinal nations of Europe.

The volume of about 300 pages, edited by Costanza Stefanori for the Skira editions, traces the stories of 59 personalities of Italian origin buried in the Père-Lachaise, the most famous and monumental of the Parisian cemeteries: Amedeo Modigliani, Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe De Nittis, Vincenzo Bellini or Piero Gobetti, but also others undeservedly ended up in oblivion such as the circus artist Antonio Francon or the clown Achille Zavatta.

As many expressions of a relationship, that between Italy and France, which after the political frictions of last year is now keen to celebrate Luigi Di Maio. "The stories of so many famous people - affirms the Foreign Minister in the preface - allow us to enhance the deep bond of friendship between Italy and France, our 'Latin Sister', also on the path towards Italian Unity". In addition to "rediscovering an all-Italian identity but at the same time French and profoundly European", as the Ambassador of Italy in France, Teresa Castaldo said, in her speech before the large audience, including the actress Monica Bellucci, who participated in the presentation of the book in the ancient Sicilian theater of the embassy in Rue de Varenne. Paying homage to an editorial project that "testifies to the solidity and indissolubility, as often repeated by our President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, of the relations between the two peoples, united by bonds of strength and intensity that is unmatched in the panorama of international relations of our country ", Castaldo then hailed the" renewed dynamism of Italian-French relations "on the eve of the Naples summit on 27 February.

'L'Italia del Père-Lachaise' is also the result of the tenacity and enthusiasm of the Consul General of Italy in Paris, Emilia Gatto, who has been working on this project for over two years and who said he felt a "very strong joy because we have reached this magnificent day, when we see a dream come true ". While the Director General of the Farnesina for Italians Abroad and Migration Policies, Luigi Maria Vignali, present in Paris to participate in the ceremony, insisted on the importance of an initiative that "brings together memory, art and history of a community "as well as honoring the Franco-Italian" extraordinary friendship ". Accompanied by an ad hoc map of Père-Lachaise and a specific app to download to your smartphone, the editorial project was developed also thanks to the contribution of the Comites, the elective committee of Italians residing abroad in Paris. After the presentation in Paris, the richly illustrated volume will be presented on Monday at Palazzo Farnese, seat of the French Embassy in Rome.