President Mattarella receives the Istituto degli Innocenti Medal made by Penko Bottega Orafa

President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella at the opening ceremony of the Institute’s Seicentennial celebrations

“A fascinating history that continues into the future,” wrote the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on the Institute of Innocents’ book of honour. Today, 11 February, the Head of State took part in the opening of the celebrations for the 600th anniversary of the Institute, the oldest Italian public institution dedicated to the defence of children.”

Under the Loggiato degli Innocenti, in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, the President was greeted by the President of the Region, Enrico Rossi, the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, and the Prefect of Florence, Laura Lega, and was welcomed at the entrance to the Courtyard of Men by President Maria Grazia Giuffrida, who accompanied the Head of State to the Care Homes. Together with the Director General of the Istituto degli Innocenti, Giovanni Palumbo, the President visited Casa Bambini, one of the organisation’s reception facilities, which meets the needs of children in difficult family situations in close cooperation with the social services, the ordinary and juvenile courts, the judicial police and the local health authorities.

In the San Giovanni Hall, the President was presented with the medal created by the Florentine master goldsmith Paolo Penko to mark the Institute’s 600th anniversary and signed the Institute’s book of honour.

Fonte: Istituto degli Innocenti