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“Partnership was and is a true experience for the people in both cities and has developed in three decades far beyond friendship into solid cooperation and a beacon of European solidarity”
On the occasion of this year’s anniversary of 30 years of twinning between the City of Science Darmstadt and the Italian city of Brescia, Mayor Jochen Partsch, at the invitation of Mayor Emilio Del Bono, will attend an official reception in the city hall of Brescia on Friday, September 24th, to celebrate the anniversary together celebrate. A delegation from Logroño is expected to attend the official reception in the town hall, the Palazzo Loggia, where the partnership certificate was signed by Mayor Günther Metzger and Giovanni Boninsegna. Logroño has been a sister of Brescia for 15 years.
“Our partnership with Brescia has developed into a real experience for the people in both cities from the very beginning, and in these three decades it has developed far beyond friendship into solid cooperation and a true beacon of European solidarity,” praises the Lord Mayor the strong ties between the two cities. “I am therefore very pleased about the invitation from my Italian counterpart, I am very happy to accept it and look forward to a lively exchange and good conversations this weekend.”
Brescia is located in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, which was hit hard by the health crisis in March 2020 with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Here the value of the partnership with Darmstadt was shown in a new light. With a rapidly organized package of aid measures, the city and civil society of Darmstadt sent hand in hand more than medical material and donations to the twin city, it was rather the solidarity that characterized this new dimension of the partnership. The Lord Mayor remembers: “It was a matter of course that, under the circumstances at the time, we would immediately initiate various fundraising campaigns to support the municipal clinic and families and small businesses in need in Brescia. The strong cohesion between the two cities was evident even and especially in difficult times. Together we have made it clear that peace, prosperity and freedom are secured in Europe if we work together and value one another. “
The trip also includes a visit by the mayor to a small Festival dei Saipori (Festival of Delights) at Brescia Castle, which is organized in a pandemic-friendly manner. There, visitors can find out more about Darmstadt and taste the popular Darmstadt beer. Another reception awaits the mayor from the Alpini group, former mountain hunters who were present for many years in Darmstadt at the Heinerfest with wine and Brescian specialties and who are now taking on social tasks in their city.
The mandatory program of the anniversary celebration in Brescia also includes a visit to the archaeological area of San Salvatore – Santa Giulia and the Capitolium, because the city of Brescia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. “Here Darmstadt can benefit from Brescia’s experience as a World Heritage City,” says Mayor Partsch happily. “We were very pleased about the congratulations from Brescia on the award of the World Heritage title to Mathildenhöhe.” In return, Partsch congratulates his colleague Mayor Del Bono on behalf of the Italian nation on winning the European championship in football.
The history of the town twinning shows the close ties that have now become established: 30 years ago, the former Italian consul general Gianfranco Facco-Bonetti initiated the first cultural relations between the two towns. His initiative quickly bore fruit, because whenever Brescia presented itself gastronomically with wine, pasta and cheese at the Heinerfest, it promised a special pleasure experience. Nothing about that should have changed to this day, according to the city. The enthusiasm of civil society for the twin town in northern Italy, near Lake Garda, is great, which is also reflected in the numerous varied encounters. Conversely, Brescia is very interested in cooperation between universities or in internships in Darmstadt companies, in tourism or in the cultural sector. Many associations and institutions fill Darmstadt’s partnership with Brescia with life and usually organize numerous encounters on their own. There are also good contacts between youth groups and schools.
Further information on the exchange with Brescia is available from the Office for Diversity and International Relations at vielfalt-international@darmstadt.de.
(Text: PM Science City Darmstadt)
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