An Italian homeless couple got married on Thursday after spending the last 30 years together in an Italian airport.
The couple, Attilio and Dolores, both in their 50s, were married by the mayor of Varese, just up the road from Milan's Malpensa International Airport where they had spent most of their adult lives together.
She was dressed in white and he in black as Mayor Davide Galimberti helped them tie the knot at Palazzo Estense after a campaign involving homeless charities.
"I had a normal life, then I had some family difficulties which led me to live in the airport," Attilio told reporters.
"Thanks to everyone who made this possible," said Dolores, smiling shyly from beneath a mop of mahogany red hair.
"It's a beautiful wedding, celebrated thanks to these associations, to honour the desire of two people who have been together for 30 years," said Mayor Galimberti.
Mariarosa Sabella, from the homeless centre ‘Il Viandante’ (The Wayfarer), and Davide Franzi, a volunteer from the association 'Pane di Sant'Antonio' (St Anthony's Bread), acted as witnesses.
Other activists took care of the hair, make-up and clothes.
After a reception at the Wayfarer walk-in centre, the couple began a honeymoon of a few days in a hotel in Varese.
Attilio and Dolores are now hoping to return to normal life, outside the airport.
"All we're asking for is a small house and a job," said Dolores.
The charities said they hoped that this wish, too, would soon come true.
