A chance meeting in Barga this morning very quickly developed into an almost official visit and could even result in more contact between Switzerland and Barga.
Two residents of Interlaken in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland were walking round the city with a leaflet in their hand showing the unmistakable colours of the The Italian National Tartan.
More than that, they also had a scarf made from the tartan which they had bought in Scotland but what they were looking for was something a bit more tangible here in Barga – a shop, a mill, or maybe even Mike Lemetti, the creator of the Italian National Tartan and what about a glimpse of Paolo Nutini walking through the city resplendent in the Italian National Tartan kilt ?
None of which could come to pass as all of the above could only be found in Scotland but a photo opportunity was not to be missed standing on the exact same spot where the photograph of Paolo was taken in Barga Vecchia.
Director and Owner of the Hotel Harder-Minerva (site here) in Interlaken and also Vice Mayor of Interlaken, René Bettoli and his wife were then invited into Palazzo Pancrazi to meet with the Mayor of Barga, Marco Bonnini where gifts were exchanged and contacts for the future were made.
The Italian National Tartan. – The brain child of Mike Lemetti, a third generation Scottish-Italian, whose family moved from Tuscany to Scotland in 1890. The design has the backing of the Italian Government and is aimed at the large community of Scots with Italian heritage. They are the first ethnic community to have their own tartan. Mikes’s site is here
The Italian National Tartan was carefully created to represent the strength and pride of the Italian People. Each colour is significant to the Italian heritage to embody the culture, traditions, and history of Italians Worldwide. The green, white and red reflect the colours in the Italian flag. The tri-colours were adopted in honour of the uniforms worn by the Civic Militia of Milan which were predominately green with some white. Red parts were added in 1796 when the Militia became the National Guard.
The black in the Italian National Tartan reflects the Praetorian Guard, an elite force of Palace Guards established in the beginning of the Empire Period, to guard the person and family of the emperor. With its unique history , the guard still remains a symbol of strength and power. The gold represents the rich culture of the Roman Empire and the warmth and beauty of the Italian sunshine. These colours rest on a field of azzuro blue. The colour itself is bold and formidable, bringing forth images of the Mediterranean depths. It was selected in honour of the Italian National football team and embodies the love and support the Italian people have for their country.
Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.
Until 1891 Interlaken was known as Aarmühle. The original importance of the town was as the site of a convent of the Augustinian Canons; the convent was built in 1130 and lasted until 1528. In the past, printing, textiles, and to a smaller extent watchmaking were also of importance, but today tourism is the most significant source of income. Interlaken is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerland, and it remains one of the most popular.