(Ticker) – “Brescia And Bergamo they are an example with their civic virtues of yesterday and today. Cities hard hit by the first wave of pandemic, when an aggressive and unknown virus claimed thousands of victims in our country. And they knew how to react, giving life, and feeding with their values, that model of solidarity that made it possible to face the crisis”. Thus the President of the Republic, Sergius Mattarellaat the Teatro Grande in Brescia for the opening ceremony of Bergamo-Brescia Italian capital of culture.
The event was held simultaneously in the two cities, in Brescia at the Teatro Grande and in Bergamo at the Donizetti. To welcome Mattarella upon his arrival, in addition to the 205 mayors of the Brescia province, the mayor of Brescia, Emilio Del Bonoand the Lombard governor, Attilius Fountain. The audience in the theatre, about a thousand people, bestowed a long applause of about 3 minutes to the Head of State. There ceremony it was opened by the anthem of Mameli sung by a choir of children accompanied by the piano and by the Ode to Joy, anthem of the European Union.
“We are reliving in Europe the tragedy of war – the head of state recalled in his speech -, which we hoped would be placed forever in the archives of history after the horrors we then experienced. And it is precisely placing the full dignity of the person at the center of every action that leads us to be on the side of those who are attacked and fight for their own independence And freedom“. “In the year that has just ended, a strong signal of unity and innovation was launched by a small, enchanting island, Procida – he then underlined -. Culture does not isolate, they proclaimed. Indeed, culture unites and multiplies. It is a strength of bell towers to know how to unite and not divide energies. You gather, in the north of our country, the same witness of Procida; confirming the unity that strengthens Italy”.
“When, atConstituent Assemblyit was discussed whether to include the promotion of culture among the fundamental principles of our Charter, there was no lack of doubts and some resistance. But the Republic solemnly assumed that task. And article 9 of our Constitution appeared”, added Mattarella. “Culture is closely connected with the freedom: study, research, expression of one’s thoughts. Our Constitution reminds us of this – once again. Art and science are free, according to article 33; while article 21 provides the right to freely express one’s thoughts. The exercise that Brescia and Bergamo, the capital of culture, are preparing to undertake is, therefore, a great exercise of freedom, which the whole country will look forward to”.