(ANSA) - ROME, FEBRUARY 25 - Hundreds of people are parading to the funeral home in the hall of the Protomoteca in the Campidoglio for a last farewell to Maurizio Costanzo, who passed away yesterday at the age of 84.
This morning the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri and two of the journalist's children, the director Saverio Costanzo and the screenwriter Camilla Costanzo, were present at the arrival of the coffin in the Campidoglio.
Among the first to arrive Francesco Rutelli with his wife Barbara Palombelli and Emanuela Aureli.
Four vases of white roses were brought in with the coffin.
Maria De Filippi arrived later, passing through a side entrance.
With her, the adopted son of the couple, Gabriele, in tears.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also paid tribute to the conductor.
"He leaves us the legacy of a great journalism capable of communicating with everyone and of understanding that the human dimension of things is very important. He was a man of his own ideas but capable of understanding everyone and he was very interested in the human character of people", he said the premier.
Among others Valerio Mastrandrea, Mara Venier, Pierluigi Diaco, Fiorello, Paola Barale are some of the well-known personalities who have come to pay homage to Costanzo.
Mastrandrea placed a white rose on the coffin.
"Rarely have I seen a tribute that was a plebiscite. It's as if young and old in this country had all bowed down in front of Maurizio Costanzo," said Gianni Letta.
"When Tg2 Post was born, I telephoned him to get his impressions and he gave them to me, together with some very affectionate and friendly advice, I greatly appreciated him. He
was a master of television, I think he left an important mark in journalism and on Italian TV. This is also why we have decided in agreement with Palazzo Chigi to proclaim the solemn funeral", said the Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano.
"There is a moving tribute from Roman men and women to a giant of television, culture and journalism", said the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri.
The solemn funeral will be held on Monday at 3 pm in the Chiesa degli Artisti in Piazza del Popolo in Rome.
(HANDLE).
