San Cristoforo Gold Medals awards 2008

A packed Teatro dei Differenti this afternoon for the annual Saint Christopher Gold Medal awards. Now in its tenth year and a standing ovation for the Mayor of Barga Umberto Sereni who opened the proceedings with an emotional speech commentating on his bitter sweet feelings as this will be his last ceremony that he will be officiating at as his administration comes to an end before next year as he is barred by law from running for office for three consecutive terms.

He also launched a strongly worded attack on Umberto Bossi concerning his recent statements about pride on being Italian. Reinforced by the playing of the national anthem and the opening and closing of the ceremony with the theatre decked out in the tricolour flags.

The Premio San Cristoforo d’Oro (Golden St Christopher medals) named for Barga’s ancient patron, Saint Christopher, are presented each year to celebrate extraordinary contributions to the town and its people.

The list of people honoured with the medal this year:

l’assessore regionale alla Salute, Enrico Rossi | David Baldacci – writer | Alan Renucci – AS Barga | Alberto Varetti – President of the Bank Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Pisa e Livorno | Doctor Pierluigi Vangi – il primario di Ginecologia e Ostetricia dell’Ospedale San Francesco | Benito Bonaccorsi | Vittorio Lino Biondi | Giampiero Castelvecchi | Saverio Fiori | Cammilla Giannotti |Giampiero Giuliani | Andrea Mazzolini | Vanda Moscardini Bartolomei |Paolo Pancioli | Marta Pasquini | Top Moda di Floriana, Maela, Elisa, Paola e Andrea.

The awards are given each year … 2007 award winners can be seen here

Mayor Umberto Sereni said the awards recognised people who had helped to raise Barga’s profile across the world. “It was important that we did something to honour the citizens of Barga. Many places do it but Barga was not one of them so we decided to use our patron saint as a symbol of pride and identity for the town. Every year we honour people who have stood out and done something in Barga or across the world.”