The Italian community on the French Riviera celebrated the National Day (Festa della Repubblica), which takes place on June 2nd, the day of the proclamation of the Republic in 1946.
For protocol reasons (the Monegasque community organized its reception at the Embassy on June 2nd), the Consulate General in Nice postponed its festivities to this Sunday.
It was at the Citadel of Villefranche sur Mer, a historic site that recalls the presence of the House of Savoy in the County of Nice, where Mr. Luciano Barillaro, Consul General, welcomed his guests, local authorities, and invited members of the Italian community residing in Nice and its region.
Mr. Gérard Grosgogeat, the Mayor of Villefranche, was present along with many officials, including Senator Vestri, Mayor of Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat.
There are about 9,000 Italians residing in Nice and 25,000 in the consular district that includes the departments of Alpes-Maritimes, Hautes-Alpes, and Alpes de Haute-Provence. However, in reality, it is estimated that nearly 70,000 Italians more or less regularly stay in the French Riviera region.
Naturally, it is quite unnecessary to recall the ties between Nice and Italy, as the population of Nice is largely composed of immigrants of Italian origin and, of course, particularly from neighboring Piedmont.
The buffet was prepared and served by students from the Serramazzoni Hospitality School in the Modena department, an area particularly affected by the earthquake in the past week.
How can one not see a symbol in the presence of these young people despite adversity?
Mr. Luciano Barillaro, Consul General of Italy, stated: “It is our national holiday and we want to celebrate it despite the serious situation in certain areas of the country. I want to emphasize the historical ties between the Italian community and the people of Nice and the Riviera. In Europe, which faces some difficulties in its construction, we must start from what unites us to lay the foundations for increasingly strong ties.”
