{:en}Three days of meetings, cultural exchanges and friendship. From Friday, May 18 to Sunday, May 20, the mayor of Loano, Luigi Pignocca, and a large delegation of the Twinning Committee chaired by Danilo Fangazio traveled to Francheville to renew the relationship of brotherhood that has linked the two “twin” towns for more than 20 years.
Reaching the French resort on Friday afternoon, the first citizen of Loano and members of the committee were welcomed by Francheville Mayor Michel Rantonnet, who accompanied them on a tour of Lyon that also touched on the splendid Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica.
On Saturday evening the Loano delegation was the guest of honor at a “gala evening” of good food and music. Then members of the Twinning Committee's “Scalcinati Cantanti” choir took the stage, performing a very personal version of “La Marsigliese,” “Fratelli d'Italia” and the twinning anthem. Accompanying them were also the two mayors Pignocca and Rantonnet, who on this occasion demonstrated their singing skills by joining the choir. At the end, the two delegations exchanged some tributes.
Throughout the weekend the people of Loano were guests of some French families who were willing to open the doors of their homes to the “Italian twins.” The hospitality will be reciprocated in 2020, when a French delegation will visit Loano.
-
- Meeting Loano-Francheville
-
- Meeting Loano-Francheville
“It was a pleasure and an honor to be the guests of our friends from Francheville,’ explains Loano Mayor Luigi Pignocca, ‘These three days in the ’twin‘ town of our Loano allowed us to further strengthen the already strong relationship of friendship and esteem that has bound us together since 1997 and that over the years has led to many important cultural exchanges. For this I have to thank our Loano-Francheville Twinning Committee, which plays a very important role: not only does it carry out important initiatives to promote and disseminate the culture of our ’cousins across the Alps” as part of the twinning with the French town, but in recent years it has initiated so many other activities that serve and benefit our town and our community.".
The next match between Loano and Francheville is scheduled for September next year, when work on the new sports center in the French town will be completed. On that occasion, an Italy-France football match (friendly, of course) is scheduled.
Meanwhile, Saturday, May 26 in the “Francheville Gardens” is scheduled for the usual “social apericena” organized monthly by the Loano-Frencheville Twinning Committee. The event enjoys the patronage of the City of Loano and is open to all, members, friends, sympathizers and just curious people who want to learn more about the group's many activities.{:}
