The visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Italy has touched two cities of extraordinary historical and cultural importance: Rome and Ravenna. An opportunity to celebrate the links between the United Kingdom and Italy, while immersing itself in the rich artistic and historical heritage of the country.
TO Romethe royal couple was welcomed with all the honors, meeting the highest positions of the state, including the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The visit to the capital included significant stages such as the Quirinale, the altar of the homeland and the Colosseum, symbols of the historic greatness of Rome. There was no lack of more informal moments, like a stop in a historic ice cream shop in the center, testifying to the warmth of the Roman welcome. A particularly significant event was the private meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican, a gesture of great spiritual and institutional importance.
The second stage of the journey led King Carlo and Queen Camilla a Ravennaa city famous for its magnificent early Christian and Byzantine mosaics, a UNESCO heritage. Here, the attention has focused on the cultural and historical richness of the city. The royal couple visited Dante Alighieri’s tomb, paying homage to the Supreme Poet, and the Basilica of San Vitale, admiring the splendid mosaic art. The visit to Ravenna also had a particular meaning on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the city from Nazi -fascism, a commemorative moment shared with the local authorities and the president Mattarella, who accompanied the royals in this stage.
In Ravenna, King Carlo also made a symbolic gesture, adding a card to a mosaic made in his honor by the Academy of Fine Arts, a work of art that was then given to him. The visit ended with a meeting in Piazza del Popolo with local farmers and producers, some of whom are affected by recent floods, underlining the attention of the British crown towards the communities and challenges of the territory.