Caffe' Florian opens at foreign ministry
Venice icon 'example of Italian excellence' say Frattini
19 July, 14:35
(ANSA) - Rome, July 19 - A branch of Venice's historic
Caffe' Florian opened at the Italian foreign ministry Monday,
the fifth home-away-from-home for one of the lagoon city's most
famous watering holes.Founded in 1720, Florian's has marked almost 300 years of Venetian cultural and political life, with Lord Byron, Goethe and Casanova among its illustrious clientele.
Before the foreign ministry in Rome, it had opened branches in Florence, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and London.
"If you want to have a coffee you might as well have one in a pleasant place," said Foreign Minister Franco Frattini as he surveyed the velvet-rich mock 18th-century decor with copies of original frescoes as well as Italian mosaics and stucco work.
"The Florian has seen countless important pieces of Italian history and has taken Venice's image around the world. It is an example of Italian excellence".
"It's a great honour to be here," said Florian Holding SrL CEO Marco Paolini.
Officials said the cafe', designed to be an exclusive niche for visiting delegations, would help efforts to promote Italy's image abroad.
