About forty people gathered to celebrate the siblings at Paolo’s house in Paterno.
Paola, meanwhile, lives in a nursing home in Fiesole together with her husband, Adolfo, who is 98 years old.
“Those who have known him all their lives didn’t want to miss it,” said Sonia, an acquired relative of Paolo who lives in the same building as the new centenarian.
“He is really well-liked by everyone. He also has a great sense of humour.
“When he found out what we were organising and that they would also interview him, he said, ‘I’m going to call in sick.’
“It was a beautiful party, they were very lively.
“There was a lot of emotion when they saw each other, after about a year, even though they speak regularly on the phone.”
Both childless, Paolo worked as a salesman for clothing and underwear.
During the Second World War he was captured by the Germans on September 8, 1943.
Taken to Cassino (Latina) he was used as forced labour to build bunkers along the ‘Hitler line’, but managed to escape and return to Florence - on foot.
Paola instead lived for years in the hamlet of Antella - still in the municipality of Bagno a Ripoli - together with her husband and worked in a laundry.
The municipal administration also participated in the party with the mayor Francesco Pignotti and the councillor Sandra Baragli, who gave them both a commemorative plaque “for the beautiful goal achieved”.
“There’s not much to do,” the mayor joked on social media, speculating on the possible reasons for their longevity.
“And in Bagno a Ripoli, the air is good!”
ANSA
