The oldest twinning in Europe celebrated in Verona

The provinces of Verona and Mainz-Bingen celebrate Europe’s oldest twinning. Thirty municipalities—15 from Verona and 15 from Germany—participated in the Verona celebrations from October 3rd to 5th, welcoming approximately 50 institutional guests from the Rhineland-Palatinate region. Thursday evening’s festivities began with a welcome dinner at the “Fiera del Riso” in Isola della Scala, which is twinned with Budenheim. The following day, October 4th, delegates took a cable car to Mount Baldo and visited the Castello Scaligero in Malcesine.

The official celebration, which will be attended by the Presidents of the two provinces, Flavio Pasini and Dorothea Schäfer, and the mayors of the involved municipalities, will take place on Saturday, October 5th, at 10 a.m. in the Loggia di Fra’ Giocondo at the Palazzo Scaligero. The guests will next visit Verona before wrapping up the day with a dinner at Tenuta Serego Alighieri in Valpolicella.

The oldest twinning in Europe

The twinning between Verona and Mainz-Bingen is Europe’s oldest, beginning in 1952. It was officially established in 1967 in Bingen by Angelo Tomelleri, then-President of the Province of Verona, and Werner Anderhub, Landrat of Mainz-Bingen, who signed a document that would be shown in the Loggia on Saturday. The pact establishes the basis for cultural exchanges between the two regions.

President Flavio Pasini underlined Verona’s strong geographical and commercial relations with Germany, saying that, aside from tourism, numerous German enterprises have established their operations in Verona, and Veronese businesses view Germany as a vital market. He also emphasized the forthcoming opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel, which will reinforce these ties even more.