Farewell to Antonio D’Amico, historical companion of Gianni Versace. The memory of Saint «In the sign of love»- Corriere.it

It was the great love of Gianni Versace and her partner from 1982 until her tragic death in 1997. Antonio D’Amico died on the night of December 6 at the age of 63. Just Antonio was the first to help the murdered fashion designer in front of his villa, Casa Casuarina, overlooking the ocean of Miami Beach, Florida. For months he had been battling an illness that proved to be fatal and which he faced with great strength and courage, says those close to him.

Originally from Brindisino (Mesagne), since 2002 he lived in Manerba del Garda, Brescia, where he had founded a fashion house which bore his name, closed after three years. In 2002, you started managing, together with some partners, the restaurant «La Carera», however, ceasing the activity after some time to return to dealing with fashion in the role of artist-designer. A year ago he had inaugurated his new line of tailored suits, Principe di Ragada. His life was marked by his bond with Versace: they had met in 1982 when Antonio was just 22 years old and they had never left each other: their relationship lasted until Gianni’s death. After his tragic death, D’Amico had disagreements with the family of the designer who had left an annuity and the use of his mansions. However, he preferred to receive the liquidation in a single solution to start his new life and start a career as a stylist.

But now it is Holy Versace
— just out in bookstores with the autobiography «Fratelli – my act of love for Gianni» (Feltrinelli) — to pay homage to the designer brother’s companion with a heartfelt memory. “We’ve been talking a lot lately, — said Santo Versace — so much so that I was aware of his illness. Writing the book was therapeutic for me, but most of all it is love that heals: if I hadn’t had my wife Francesca I don’t know if I would have ever recovered from the trauma. Love can heal any wound. And it is in the sign of love that I want to remember Antoniobecause his and Gianni’s was great».

Antonio and Gianni were one of the first homosexual couples to make come out officially and to live their love publicly. In the series dedicated to the murder of the fashion designer aired on Fox, Antonio D’amico was played by Ricky Martin.