Poland, Ambassador Franchetti Pardo at the commemoration of the Risorgimento hero, Francesco Nullo

On 6 May the Ambassador of Italy in Warsaw, Luca Franchetti Pardo, took part - in various Polish locations - in the commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Krzykawka in which the Risorgimento hero from Bergamo, Francesco Nullo, lost his life in 1863. The latter, at the head of the Garibaldi Legion, had come to fight for the independence of Poland against Tsarist Russia.

In Boleslaw, in the presence of civil, military and religious authorities, a celebration was held in honour of Francesco Nullo, regarded in Poland as a national hero and symbol of the friendship between Italy and Poland. Polish President Andrzej Duda took part in the commemoration with his own personal message.

In his speech, referring to Francesco Nullo, Ambassador Franchetti Pardo emphasised the influence that the historical events which repeatedly saw Italians and Poles fight side by side for the independence and freedom of both countries still have on bilateral relations. As the Ambassador recalled, it is significant that among the founders of the Italian-Polish Friendship Association there was Professor and Colonel Wojciech Narębski, who fought at Monte Cassino in the 2nd Army Corps under the command of General Wladyslaw Anders.

Accompanied by the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Krakow, Matteo Ogliari and by the Military Attaché, Stefano Cavaliere, the Ambassador laid wreaths at the monuments dedicated to Nullo in the towns of Olkusz and Boleslaw.

Similar ceremonies are also planned in Warsaw in the coming days.