The busy day for Umberto Sereni started at 11 a.m. and continue right through the day for the next 12 hours until 11 p.m. Today was a special day for Umberto as he was celebrating the last week of official duties as the Mayor of Barga. By Italian law he is forced to stand down from official duties after two consecutive administrations. In local elections they can stand for 5 years so the decade of the Sereni Administration is therefore coming to an end. The 27th of May also happens to be his birthday and so inside those 12 hours he managed to cram in a whole series of ceremonies and events to celebrate his 61st year on the planet including the following:
11 a.m.- opening of the new telephone shop “io ed Io” in Barga Giardino.
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11.45 a.m- opening of the new bed and breakfast ” Il Borgo” in Barga Vecchia. Actually maybe that should read – affittacamere – rooms for rent as it would appear that breakfast is not actually offered to residents just the possibility to use the kitchens but maybe that will change too with time. More information can be found on their site: www.ilborgovacanze.it
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12.30 a.m – an impromptu lunch party organised by the two bars in Piazza Salvi – Capretz and Da Aristo. A somewhat symbolic event as the tables were laid out at Capretz with the salami and cheeses from Aristodemo – a collaboration unthinkable just a few years ago. Spotted in the crowd enjoying the food and drink was the Finnish poet Jukka Itkonen once more on a surprise visit to Barga
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5 p.m. – opening of the a new fully equipped maternity wing and delivery room at the Barga hospital. Once again very symbolic as just 10 years ago it seemed that the hospital was due for closure.
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6.30 p.m – opening of a new exhibition of paintings by the Scottish painter John Bellamy entitled “homage to Umberto Sereni” Before the tape was cut to enter the gallery in Piazza angelio, John told the waiting crowd of the chance meeting with Umberto Sereni in Scotland a decade ago which sparked off the possibility of the first John Bellamy exhibition and the start of the collaboration between Barga and Scotland. In fact also present at the exhibition today was the ex-Lord Provost of Glasgow Alex Mosson.
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9 p.m. – now it was the turn of the rest of the community to join in the celebration with a party inside the Teatro dei Differenti with music supplied by the massed mandolins and voices of “L’Edicola e il Coro delle Casalinghe”
A series of emotional speeches from members of the community, politicians and people who have worked with Umberto over the last 10 years was followed by certificates given out for local sporting events and presents given to the Mayor to celebrate his birthday.
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Once again the unique Scottish connection was highlighted by the gift of the first bottle of Barga Beer. Yes, you did read that correctly, Barga Beer. The micro brewery set up by Ron Gauld who runs the very successful bed and breakfast Casa Fontana in Barga Vecchia, is just about to open its doors and the very first bottle of beer made exclusively here in Barga Vecchia was presented to Umberto Sereni.
11 p.m. as the people trooped out on the theatre at the end of the evening they were met by the last act, a huge firework display over the Duomo which lit up the whole sky and would have been visible right across the valley.
Click on the link below to hear Umberto’s final speech (in Italaino) in the Teatro dei Differenti