Three days, four guests – and plenty to talk about. Four guests from Kitzingen’s long-standing twin town, Montevarchi – Mayor Cristina Bucciarelli, Councillor Lorenzo Allegrucci (responsible for twinning), Leopoldi Pompili and Fausto Chiarini – spent the Wine Festival in Kitzingen. The town of Kitzingen and the Friends of the Twin Towns Association had organised a varied programme. Both hosts and guests agreed that the twinning partnership should be revitalised. In particular, it would be desirable to revive the former school exchange programme.
Mayor Bucciarelli herself took part in the exchange programme in Kitzingen in 1990 as a pupil of Raphaella Simonti – and fondly recalled that time. Even though German is no longer taught in Montevarchi and Ms Simonti has retired, those involved agreed that a pupil exchange should still be possible, even if conducted in English. “The main thing is that the young people from our two towns meet again,” says Karin Winkler, who is in charge of the exchange with Montevarchi.
The guests from Montevarchi returned to their home in Tuscany with many new experiences. They took part in the wine festival, including the parade, visited Rothenburg ob der Tauber, were welcomed by the Bausewein family in Prichsenstadt, and enjoyed a varied programme there comprising a guided tour of the town, a wine tasting and a light snack. They were given an exclusive guided tour of the House for Youth and Family. Reports of the successful debut of the ‘Fête de la Musique’ in Kitzingen encouraged the Italian delegation to send a musical delegation to this festival in Kitzingen next year. Mayor Dr Enis Tiz welcomed the delegation in the historic wedding hall and emphasised the importance of friendship across national borders. In the historic Deusterkeller, two actors from the Häckerbühne theatre group welcomed the guests in the roles of Thomas Ehemann and Herr von Deuster, whilst introducing them to the art of brewing in the 19th century. A visit to the monastery cellar rounded off the programme.