On Friday, 9 May, members and friends of the German Australian Business Council convened in the beautiful city of Verona for a weekend of business networking, culture and gastronomy, including a special tour of the oldest, continuous operating library in the world, Fondazione Biblioteca Capitolare (FBC)
We were invited by Business Council member, Nina Fiorenza, an Italo- Australian born in far north Queensland and who has made her home in a villa in the Veneto Countryside.
Nina has a special relationship with the extraordinary La Capitolare and it was this rapport that granted our group special access to the many ancient treasures housed in the library.
We were joined by some very honourable guests including Senatore Francesco Giacobbe is the Italian Senator for Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica.
Fortunately for us, that includes Australia and we were very honoured he made the trip from Rome, where the Senate had been sitting, to be a part of our symposium.
The Hon Michelle Roberts, the longest serving woman parliamentarian and the first woman speaker of the WA parliament, and her husband Greg, arrived almost directly from Perth to join our auspicious occasion.
We were also honoured that respected journalist Rob Harris, European Correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald could join us.
Rob had been in Rome covering the conclave and the historic election of Pope Leo XIV and the white smoke arose in just enough time to allow Rob to get the very next train to Verona, just in time to join us as the La Capitolare opened its doors to us on Saturday Morning.
Daniela Ubaldi, cultural journalist and professor at Istituto Europeo di design and Francesca Pedrazza Gorlero, an Emmy winning producer also joined our delgation and we thank them for their interest in our group and their outstanding work for the FBC.
Business Council Co-Chair Dr Sabine Pittrof presented a book titled Australia 1872, written by member Dr Christoph Hein, to Monsignor Bruno Fasano, President of the FBC, a priest with the diocese of Verona and also a journalist, TV host, author of books and custodian of the extraordinary array of treasures housed in the La Capitolare.
It was Monsignor Bruno’s vision for the future of the FBC and his friendship with Nina Fiorenza that instigated the visit of our group to Verona.
Official proceedings began on Friday afternoon with the enticing fragrances of vanilla, chocolate and pastry dough suspended in the air, as we entered the hallowed halls of Bauli, the famed Panettone and Pandoro manufacturer.
The group was greeted personally by President Michele Bauli, who recounted the history of the company, founded by his grandfather, Ruggero Bauli in 1922.
It began as a family pasticceria in Verona that expanded each generation to become a significant Italian business that exports around the world, while remaining in the hands of the family.
As it was May, the Christmas specialties of Panettone and Pandoro were not in production, but we saw an extraordinary array of croissants (cornetti in Italian) and brioche on the production line, being filled with jam, vanilla custard and chocolate and being able to sample them warm, straight from the ovens was a delightful experience.
Departing from the scent of Pasticceria, we crossed to a factory of a very different kind, on the other side of Verona. The 2nd generation family run paper recycling facilities of Cartiere Saci, where we saw innovative recycling and the turning of refuse and waste into reusable commodities.
Once again, our members and guests were greeted by the head of the family business, Managing Director Lorenzo Poli.
These two visits to family-owned Veronese companies set the scene for the momentous day that followed, as both these local businesses are financial supporters of the Fondazione Biblioteca Capitolare.
And then it was time to change and go for dinner at a restaurant that is an iconic institution in Verona, Al Pompiere.
This restaurant is often booked out weeks or months in advance and our group was fortunate to secure a booking thanks to Nina Fiorenza and her local standing in the community.
Saturday
The day began with the much anticipated visit to the Fondazione Biblioteca Capitolare, as stated above, the oldest continuous operating library in the world.
Our special, personalised tour was conducted by Museum curator, Valeria Nicolis. A passionate storyteller and fluent in English, Valeria guided us through La Capitolare, explaining to us, with great knowledge its treasures, telling the history of the Biblioteca, from its first documented manuscript, the codex of Ursicinus dated 1 August 517 CE, as proof that the library has been in continuous existence since at least this time. Valeria told every story with flair and insightful knowledge as her dedication to La Capitolare and the curation and preservation of the manuscripts, books and art was apparent.
The lawyers in the group were particularly excited by one of the most extraordinary treasures housed in La Capitolare. The Istitute of Gaius, the oldest surviving document of jurisprudence from ancient Rome, and the only such document from Roman law not to have been decimated by the Byzantine empire.
The FBC has carefully restored this document and it serves as a reminder of what happens to society when democracy and rule of law are lost.
Finally, we were introduced to two magnificent globes, crafted by German cartographer Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr in 1720.
The Globes are in need of restoration, a project that Business Council members and friends displayed great enthusiasm in supporting.
After the presentation of the Globes, our participants were greeted by board member of FBC and Deputata (Member of the Italian Parliament), Onorevole Paola Boscaini. She spoke with great passion about La Capitolare and gave us much heartfelt thanks for our interest in travelling to Verona to support the Biblioteca.
Business Council Co-Chair, Dr Robert Harrison gave a vote of thanks, addressing Dottoressa Boscaini in perfect Italian.
Lunch was held at the resplendent 17° century Villa Sagromoso, with a seasonal local menu.
Business Council Co-Chair Dr Sabine Pittrof addressed the group with a welcome note, thanking everyone who had travelled from various parts of Europe, Australia and India to attend the event.
A vibrant auction was conducted by the charismatic Richard York, OAM, board member of ABIE Czech Republic and ANZCCIL in Luxembourg with some splendid prizes including wine, golfing holidays and lunch at NSW Parliament House, yielding a spectacular result toward the restoration of two globes, viewed earlier at La Capitolare.
Then it was onwards to Pieropan, a historic 4th generation family-owned winery.
Once again, the group was privileged to be personally greeted by the owner of the winery, Teresita Pieropan, who shared her enormous passion and vision for the family business, as our group were given a guided tour of the cellars before indulging in a tasting of wines.
The wines were delectable, unique in composition and bouquet and many participants found themselves queuing at the cellar door shop before boarding the bus at the conclusion of the visit.
And finally, for what was for many the jewel in the crown of the weekend, a visit to the historic villa and home of Business Council member Nina Fiorenza, built in the late 1600’s in the classic Palladio style of the Veneto.
Nina and her husband Giannicola graciously opened their home, serving Veneto “Durello” and a sumptuous afternoon tea in their magnificent garden before Nina’s very generous guided tour of their historic home, with special appearances by Nina’s charismatic and charming mother Enza and Rex, their beautiful, playful German shepherd.
Sunday
The spectacular weekend finished on the Sunday morning, with a walking tour of the beautiful city of Verona, conducted by knowledgeable local guide, Christina, starting at the Arena of Verona, built during Roman times (30 AD, to be precise) and finishing at the romantic balcony of Romeo and Juliette.
It was an incredibly enjoyable weekend, with participants conducting successful networking in resplendent surroundings of Verona and the Veneto.
The Business Council is continuing to support the Fondazione Biblioteca Capitolare and future fundraising events will be discussed in order to reach the €9000 target required to restore the globes made by German Cartograoher Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr in 1720 and showing terra australis, many decades before Captain Cook’s arrival.
Thank you to Business Council Co-Chair, Dr Sabine Pittrof, who gave her full confidence and trust to Nina and Tonya to organize the entire weekend and for her vision and support of places of historical and cultural importance, such as the Fondazione Biblioteca Capitolare.
It is the vision and leadership of the Co-Chairs that guides the Business Council to new ventures and heights as an organisation.
And of course, heartfelt thanks to Nina Fiorenza for coming up with the idea and inviting Business Council members and friends to Verona and for creating and assembling an unforgettable event with her local knowledge, enormous expertise and charisma. Many thanks are also due to Business Council member Tonya Stevens, who invested an enormous amount of time in supporting Nina’s effort to bring this weekend to fruition and turn it into the success it was.
