HRH The Prince of Wales, 4-8 November 2002
Prince Charles arrived at Florence Airport and travelled immediately to the town hall, Palazzo Vecchio, the imposing 16th century palace in the city centre, to be received by the Mayor, Leonardo Domenici and his wife Geraldina Fiechter. He was accompanied inside the Courtyard of Michelozzo, passed by an honour guard of Florence flag-bearers and trumpeters (Gonfalone di Firenze), and visited several rooms in the Palace.
The Mayor then escorted him along the overhead corridor to the world-famous
Later that afternoon, HRH attended a reception in the Stibbert Museum by the British Italian Chamber of Commerce, Tuscany Section, for young entrepreneurs. He was met by Kirsten Aschengreen Piacenti, Curator of the museum, which contains a fascinating collection of armaments from the 15th to the 19th century, and was donated to the city by the Anglo-Italian founder Frederick Stibbert. The Prince was accompanied to the ballroom by Maria Grazia Antoci, BCCI Tuscany secretary, Filippo Salvi, president of the Young Entrepeneurs Association of Florence and Michele Chiarini, Commercial Officer of the British Consulate Florence.
In the evening, he visited the British Institute of Florence, where
On the Tuesday, Prince Charles visited the European University Institute in nearby Fiesole, where he was met by Gianfranco Varvesi, Secretary-General, and Helen Wallace (Lady Wallace of Saltaire), Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. After viewing a sculpture exhibition, The myth of Europa, with the sculptor, Pepe Onofri, HRH met British and selected other members of the Faculty for discussion of the work of the EUI, in particular its Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. He also viewed plans for new Institute Library, soon to be constructed. His meeting with British staff and students was held on the Institute's loggia, with a panorama over the plain of Florence.
Proceeding to Villa La Pietra, once home of Sir Harold Acton and now a study centre of New York University, the Prince was met and accompanied by NYU Director Marie Manca. He chatted with landscape architect Kim Wilkie and Horticultural Associate Nick Dakin-Elliot on the panoramic terrace, and with Garden Club students during his walk through the delightful gardens. He was shown demonstrations of the activities at La Pietra -- statue restoration, pot restoration, removal of lemon tree to a protected location for the winter -- before a meeting with "Friends of La Pietra" and British alumni.
Prince Charles then boarded a helicopter to travel
The Prince of Wales then travelled, again by helicopter, to Rome to drop in on a reception to celebrate the relaunch of British beef in Italy.
After dinner, Prince Charles made a private visit to the floodlit Mercati di Traiano, one of the most important examples of imperial architecture, hosting at the time an exhibition of coloured marbles coming from several Italian and international museums.
On Wednesday 6 November, HRH's day started in the Rome's Appia Natural Park, at the Temple of deity Redicolo, restored site of Roman temple and mediaeval farmhouse built over it. Here he was met by Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, and viewed original foundations and chatted with schoolchildren in a classroom of the Environmental Education Centre. Prince Charles formally unveiled a plaque to open the Centre before boarding an electric "Archeobus" to view the "Ninfeo di Egeria" fountain and a Roman sacred wood. Proceeding on the Archeobus to the Appian Way, Prince Charles walked up part of the unrestored originalRoman street to the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, where Adriano La Regina, Superintendent for Archaeological Assets of Rome, escorted him on a visit to the tomb.
After a long car journey to the Vallechiara rehabilitation centre in the
Returning to Rome, Prince Charles called at the Montemartini Museum, a former power station and splendid example of urban regeneration. He was met by Emilia Talamo, Director of the Museum, and Anna Mura Sommella, Director of Capitoline Museums, and escorted to the Engine Room and Boiler Room to view the exhibit of Roman artefacts displayed among the silent machinery.
That evening, prior to a reception at Villa Wolkonsky, residence of HM Ambassador to Italy, The Prince of Wales held investitures for nine people awarded honours. After meeting a group of Monte San Martino Trust scholars and another of Samaritans workers and fund-raisers, he attended the reception, which included a poetry recital by two costumed actors from Modus Vivendi Theatre, accompanied by a cellist, reading from the letters of Shelley, Byron, Mary Shelley and Claire Clairmont.
Thursday saw the Prince of Wales transfer by helicopter to the Bay of Naples. His first engagement was at British-managed Capodichino Airport,
Another helicopter flight followed to the island of Ischia to visit La Mortella, home of
After lunch, HRH flew to the Ièranto Bay natural park on the Sorrento coastline, where he was met by Giulia Crespi, founder of the Italian Environmental Foundation FAI, for a tour of the park.
Before returning to Rome, The Prince of Wales stopped at the archaeological site of Herculaneum on the Neapolitan coastline. Guided by Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, Director of British School at Rome and leader of Packard Humanities Institute conservation project on site, and Robert Fowler of Bristol University, HRH met Luisa Bossa, Mayor of Herculaneum, Giovanni Guzzo, Archeological Superintendent for Pompei and Herculaneum, and Maria Paola Guidobaldi, Director of Herculaneum site. After an overview from a panoramic viewpoint, Prince Charles toured the site starting at the Suburban Baths, examined a newly-discovered head of an Amazon, and continued via the House of the Bas-Relief of Telepho to the House of the Wooden Partition and Villa of the Papyri.
On his last day in Italy, Prince Charles walked down Rome's Spanish Steps to
The Prince of Wales visited the "D. Manin" School in Rome's multiethnic Esquilino district, where Headmaster Bruno Cacco introduced him to the English-speaking staff and led him on a tour of the classrooms to observe the experimental curriculum. He then proceeded to the British Council, where Director Richard Alford introduced him to the staff. HRH participated in a "Managing Diversity in Schools" project team meeting. This project, in which the Manin School is participating, aims to create opportunities for sharing successful management of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity in schools in Italy and the UK and to encourage professional exchange in teacher education and development in the field of intercultural education.
His Royal Highness was then entertained to luncheon by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Before departing from
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visited Italy from 4 to 8 November 2002. Reflecting Prince Charles' eclectic interests, the visit touched on business, cultural, environmental, social, European and military affairs, as well of course as on bilateral relations between Italy and the United Kingdom.
Prince Charles arrived at Florence Airport and travelled immediately to the town hall, Palazzo Vecchio, the imposing 16th century palace in the city centre, to be received by the Mayor, Leonardo Domenici and his wife Geraldina Fiechter. He was accompanied inside the Courtyard of Michelozzo, passed by an honour guard of Florence flag-bearers and trumpeters (Gonfalone di Firenze), and visited several rooms in the Palace.
The Mayor then escorted him along the overhead corridor to the world-famous Uffizi Gallery.
Here he was met and escorted by Anna-Maria Petrioli Tofani (also Governor of the British Institute in Florence) to view artworks including the Maestà by Giotto and Cimabue and Botticelli's Primavera and Pala di San Barnaba. Here he paused to discuss restoration work with Scottish restorer Nicola McGregor.
Later that afternoon, HRH attended a reception in the Stibbert Museum by the British Italian Chamber of Commerce, Tuscany Section, for young entrepreneurs. He was met by Kirsten Aschengreen Piacenti, Curator of the museum, which contains a fascinating collection of armaments from the 15th to the 19th century, and was donated to the city by the Anglo-Italian founder Frederick Stibbert. The Prince was accompanied to the ballroom by Maria Grazia Antoci, BCCI Tuscany secretary, Filippo Salvi, president of the Young Entrepeneurs Association of Florence and Michele Chiarini, Commercial Officer of the British Consulate Florence.
In the evening, he visited the British Institute of Florence, where Director Christine Wilding introduced him to Sir Derek Thomas, Chairman of Board, Assistant Directors Neil Critchley and Sarah Ellis, staff and students. He visited classrooms and the multimedia room and attended a reception, meeting further key figures including President of Tuscany Region Claudio Martini, Archbishop Enio Antonelli, and Anglican Chaplain Fr Lawrence MacLean,
On the Tuesday, Prince Charles visited the European University Institute in nearby Fiesole, where he was met by Gianfranco Varvesi, Secretary-General, and Helen Wallace (Lady Wallace of Saltaire), Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. After viewing a sculpture exhibition, The myth of Europa, with the sculptor, Pepe Onofri, HRH met British and selected other members of the Faculty for discussion of the work of the EUI, in particular its Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. He also viewed plans for new Institute Library, soon to be constructed. His meeting with British staff and students was held on the Institute's loggia, with a panorama over the plain of Florence.
Proceeding to Villa La Pietra, once home of Sir Harold Acton and now a study centre of New York University, the Prince was met and accompanied by NYU Director Marie Manca. He chatted with landscape architect Kim Wilkie and Horticultural Associate Nick Dakin-Elliot on the panoramic terrace, and with Garden Club students during his walk through the delightful gardens. He was shown demonstrations of the activities at La Pietra -- statue restoration, pot restoration, removal of lemon tree to a protected location for the winter -- before a meeting with "Friends of La Pietra" and British alumni.
Prince Charles then boarded a helicopter to travel to the Vallombrosa sustainable forestry research station. Here he was met by Alberto Bronzi, Director of the Vallombrosa Nature Reserve, and transferred to the Study and Research Centre by car. Sandro Bottacci, State Forestry Corps officer and botanical forestry expert, showed HRH the plaque commemorating Milton's stay here, during which he was inspired to write part of Paradise Lost, and escorted him to the Vallombrosa Abbey to meet Don Lorenzo Russo, Abbot General of the Congregazione Vallombrosana of the Order of St Benedict. After visiting the Abbey, HRH toured the Scientific Forest, guided by Augusto Tocci, Director of the Experimental Forestry Institute of Arezzo, and tasted hedgerow products before departure.
The Prince of Wales then travelled, again by helicopter, to Rome to drop in on a reception to celebrate the relaunch of British beef in Italy.
Here he was met by Jeff Martin, Italy Representative, Meat and Livestock Commission, and accompanied to ballroom, where HRH sliced a beef roast and tasted a sample.
After dinner, Prince Charles made a private visit to the floodlit Mercati di Traiano, one of the most important examples of imperial architecture, hosting at the time an exhibition of coloured marbles coming from several Italian and international museums.
On Wednesday 6 November, HRH's day started in the Rome's Appia Natural Park, at the Temple of deity Redicolo, restored site of Roman temple and mediaeval farmhouse built over it. Here he was met by Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, and viewed original foundations and chatted with schoolchildren in a classroom of the Environmental Education Centre. Prince Charles formally unveiled a plaque to open the Centre before boarding an electric "Archeobus" to view the "Ninfeo di Egeria" fountain and a Roman sacred wood. Proceeding on the Archeobus to the Appian Way, Prince Charles walked up part of the unrestored originalRoman street to the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, where Adriano La Regina, Superintendent for Archaeological Assets of Rome, escorted him on a visit to the tomb.
After a long car journey to the Vallechiara rehabilitation centre in the Castelli Romani hills overlooking Rome, The Prince of Wales was met by Abbot Major Dom Tarcisio Benvenuti and English brother Dom Peter Kingsley for a brief prayer of welcome at the outside chapel. He visited the weaving unit, the traditional icon production unit, the buffalo pens and juice canning factory and mozzarella production unit. In the refectory, HRH met a group of patients and their families over a light lunch.
Returning to Rome, Prince Charles called at the Montemartini Museum, a former power station and splendid example of urban regeneration. He was met by Emilia Talamo, Director of the Museum, and Anna Mura Sommella, Director of Capitoline Museums, and escorted to the Engine Room and Boiler Room to view the exhibit of Roman artefacts displayed among the silent machinery.
That evening, prior to a reception at Villa Wolkonsky, residence of HM Ambassador to Italy, The Prince of Wales held investitures for nine people awarded honours. After meeting a group of Monte San Martino Trust scholars and another of Samaritans workers and fund-raisers, he attended the reception, which included a poetry recital by two costumed actors from Modus Vivendi Theatre, accompanied by a cellist, reading from the letters of Shelley, Byron, Mary Shelley and Claire Clairmont.
Thursday saw the Prince of Wales transfer by helicopter to the Bay of Naples. His first engagement was at British-managed Capodichino Airport, where - accompanied by Mauro Pollio, Managing Director, BAAI SpA and Chairman & Managing Director Gesac SpA - he viewed charts of the airport development plan. He then joined Mayor Rosa Russo Iervolino and President of Campania Region Antonio Bassolino to perform the opening ceremony for a recently completed new section of terminal.
Another helicopter flight followed to the island of Ischia to visit La Mortella, home of Lady Susana, widow of composer William Walton. Lady Walton accompanied The Prince of Wales through the splendid gardens before stopping in the auditorium for a concert, part of the Sir William Walton centenary programme.
After lunch, HRH flew to the Ièranto Bay natural park on the Sorrento coastline, where he was met by Giulia Crespi, founder of the Italian Environmental Foundation FAI, for a tour of the park.
Before returning to Rome, The Prince of Wales stopped at the archaeological site of Herculaneum on the Neapolitan coastline. Guided by Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, Director of British School at Rome and leader of Packard Humanities Institute conservation project on site, and Robert Fowler of Bristol University, HRH met Luisa Bossa, Mayor of Herculaneum, Giovanni Guzzo, Archeological Superintendent for Pompei and Herculaneum, and Maria Paola Guidobaldi, Director of Herculaneum site. After an overview from a panoramic viewpoint, Prince Charles toured the site starting at the Suburban Baths, examined a newly-discovered head of an Amazon, and continued via the House of the Bas-Relief of Telepho to the House of the Wooden Partition and Villa of the Papyri.
On his last day in Italy, Prince Charles walked down Rome's Spanish Steps to the Keats Shelley Memorial House, where Curator Catherine Payling showed him the museum dedicated to the memory of the two poets, in the house in which John Keats died in 1821. His Royal Highness unfurled a banner to announce the centenary of the founding of the Keats Shelley Memorial Association before visiting one of the finest libraries dedicated to Romantic literature (particularly Keats, Shelley and Byron) in the world as well as a unique collection of manuscripts, paintings and memorabilia.
The Prince of Wales visited the "D. Manin" School in Rome's multiethnic Esquilino district, where Headmaster Bruno Cacco introduced him to the English-speaking staff and led him on a tour of the classrooms to observe the experimental curriculum. He then proceeded to the British Council, where Director Richard Alford introduced him to the staff. HRH participated in a "Managing Diversity in Schools" project team meeting. This project, in which the Manin School is participating, aims to create opportunities for sharing successful management of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity in schools in Italy and the UK and to encourage professional exchange in teacher education and development in the field of intercultural education.
His Royal Highness was then entertained to luncheon by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at the Quirinale Palace, with a splendid view from the tower over the Eternal City.
Before departing from Ciampino Airport, Prince Charles stopped at the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome's Testaccio district and visited the tombs of Keats and Shelley. He also made a private visit to the nearby Rome War Cemetery, where he paused to honour the fallen in the company of Philip Noakes, Director, Western Mediterranean Region, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the Rev. Jonathan Boardman, embassy chaplain.
