Three years ago, I stood in the majestic office of Matteo Renzi in
Florence's imposing Palazzo Vecchio and listened to the then 37-year-old
mayor of the Renaissance city wax enthusiastic about a lost Leonardo da
Vinci painting,
"The Battle of Anghiari," which Renzi said was very likely located on a hidden inner wall underneath a fresco in the palace. He told me that within days city hall would hold a press conference with an exciting announcement about the masterpiece.
At the time, Italy's mammoth debt threatened to derail the euro, Berlusconi had unceremoniously stepped down as prime minister, and Mario Monti was heading up an interim technocrat government.
Despite the dire mood in the country, Renzi expressed as much faith in his fellow Italians - well, most of them - as he did that the Leonardo masterpiece would soon be uncovered.
Read more: Matteo Renzi stands firm at Italy′s helm | Europe | DW.DE | 22.02.2015
"The Battle of Anghiari," which Renzi said was very likely located on a hidden inner wall underneath a fresco in the palace. He told me that within days city hall would hold a press conference with an exciting announcement about the masterpiece.
At the time, Italy's mammoth debt threatened to derail the euro, Berlusconi had unceremoniously stepped down as prime minister, and Mario Monti was heading up an interim technocrat government.
Despite the dire mood in the country, Renzi expressed as much faith in his fellow Italians - well, most of them - as he did that the Leonardo masterpiece would soon be uncovered.
Read more: Matteo Renzi stands firm at Italy′s helm | Europe | DW.DE | 22.02.2015
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