Women’s Day in memory of Floriana Garosi and Varisa Volterrani, two women who played an important role in post-war Castelfiorentino until the 1980s. There will also be a theatrical performance to recall the Matteotti crime one hundred years after that tragic event, through the points of view of two women on opposite sides: Velia Titta (Matteotti’s wife) and Margherita Sarfatti, one of Mussolini’s most famous mistresses.
This is the rich programme of the evening that on the occasion of International Women’s Day will be held at the Ridotto of the Teatro del Popolo in Castelfiorentino on Friday 8 March, from 4:30 p.m. onwards (free admission). Promoted by the SPI CGIL League of Castelfiorentino (Women’s Coordination) with the patronage of the Municipality of Castelfiorentino, the evening will be introduced by the greetings of the Mayor, Alessio Falorni, followed by a speech by Nadia Meacci (secretary of SPI CGIL Castelfiorentino) to illustrate the contents of this anniversary and in particular the innovations that will be the subject of a format to be repeated in the future.
This will be followed by the memory of Floriana and Varisa, entrusted to Mariella Santarelli (who had attended the UDI from a very young age) who will retrace the most significant moments that marked the struggles led by the two women of Castelfiorentino: Floriana, who had already been a partisan relay girl during the Resistance (as well as an expert at defusing landmines) to the point of holding the role of honorary president of the ANPI in recent years, and Varisa, a protagonist in the UDI and in numerous trade union struggles in support of the rights of women garment-makers (both of whom had also held the office of municipal councillor in the past).
Finally, the memory of Giacomo Matteotti, through the theatrical interpretation by Dr. Eleonora Pinzuti of Velia Titta and Margherita Sarfatti. “But you don’t want to be bold” is the title of this original tale, which reveals Sarfatti’s role in getting the Duce to overcome the temporary crisis of the regime that resulted from the murder and the dignity displayed by Velia in front of Mussolini.
“For many years now”, observes the Mayor Alessio Falorni, “8 March has been a recurrence that is emphasised in Castelfiorentino in a rigorous and above all constructive manner, with a programme that goes beyond any merely celebratory intentions to move into the field of reflection, with references to our history and projecting its teachings into the current context. This year’s programme, with the remembrance of two women, Floriana and Varisa, and of the Matteotti crime, confirms the validity of the SPI CGIL’s long-standing commitment to organising this event as per tradition, and for this I thank Nadia Meacci, who has always been very committed to this and other initiatives that concern the valorisation of our history, of which we should feel proud”.
“We are happy with this programme”, observes Nadia Meacci, secretary SPI CGIL League of Castelfiorentino, “which enjoys the patronage of the Municipality and which we have prepared with the support of other associations. This Women’s Day is the first in which we remember two women from Castelfiorentino, and we count on repeating this approach in future editions. I invite all citizens to participate, because the evening is an important occasion to remember two women who have given so much to our community, and the Matteotti crime that accelerated the fascisation of laws and institutions”.
International Women’s Day is promoted by the SPI CGIL of Castelfiorentino (Women’s Coordination) with the patronage of the Municipality and in collaboration with Unicoop Firenze (Castelfiorentino members’ section), Avis, Avo, Giglio Rosso Photographic Group, Prociv Arci, Auser, ANPI, Lilith Women’s Aid Centre, Circolo del Cinema “Angelo Azzurro”, and La stanza Rossa.