Ravenna features prominently in the exhibition A Riveder le Stelle – Images and Impressions of an Extraordinary Visit, inaugurated at Villa Wolkonsky, the residence of the British Ambassador to Italy. The exhibition is dedicated to the historic visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Rome and Ravenna exactly one year ago.
The “Library” room, which houses the ambassador’s book collection, is entirely dedicated to Ravenna. It includes photographs of the Queen’s visit to the Byron Museum, the Literary Reception in the courtyard of the Museums’ palace, the Royals’ emotional tribute at Dante’s tomb, their visit to the Basilica of San Vitale, and the final celebrations—first in Piazza del Popolo and then at the Town Hall with the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
Among those present at the inauguration in central Rome, near San Giovanni, were Mirella Falconi Mazzotti, President of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ravenna; Antonio Patuelli, President of the Cassa di Ravenna and creator of the Byron and Risorgimento Museums, accompanied by his wife Giulia; the Italian Ambassador to London, Paolo Cassese; the British Consul General in Italy, Kassim Ramji; the Head of the Diplomatic Ceremonial, Bruno Pasquino; and Maria Cristina Carile, the scholar who accompanied the Royals during their visit to San Vitale.
The exhibition title, A Riveder le Stelle (“And then we emerged to see the stars again”), deliberately echoes the famous final line of the Inferno; the Royals had been deeply moved by Dante’s tomb, and by the solemn silence of the Dantesque Cloisters and the poet’s House. Notably, “to see the stars again” were also among King Charles’s final words before taking his leave.
The exhibition at Villa Wolkonsky confirms that the visit of the Italian and British Heads of State was not an isolated event but the beginning of a strong and fruitful relationship—cultural, institutional, and diplomatic—between the two countries. This has also had a significant impact on tourism, with a remarkable increase of visitors to Ravenna and the wider Romagna from English-speaking countries.
Running in parallel with the Rome exhibition, Ravenna is hosting the exhibition The Day of the Heads of State until 18 April at the Private Banking offices and Branch 1 of the Cassa in Piazza del Popolo. It features some of the most striking and meaningful photographs from a day that has already become part of history.
Attachment: inauguration of the exhibition A Riveder le Stelle. From the left: Maria Cristina Carile, Mirella Falconi Mazzotti, Antonio Patuelli, and Giulia Patuelli.
