Progetto3_Layout 1 - Gabriele Albertini

215 Pages·2011·14.15 MB·English

GABRIELE ALBERTINI
MAYOR WITHOUT
BORDERS
DEEDS AND IDEAS FOR A GLOBAL CONDOMINIUM
Co-author Andrea Vento
Preface by Antonio Ferrari
GUARDAMAGNA
EDITORI
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MAYOR WITHOUT BORDERS
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GABRIELE ALBERTINI
MAYOR WITHOUT
BORDERS
DEEDS AND IDEAS FOR A GLOBAL CONDOMINIUM
Co-author Andrea Vento
Preface by Antonio Ferrari
Guardamagna Editori
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Edited by Helen Isabella Crawshaw
Translated by Jeffrey Jennings and Robert Burns on behalf of Lan-
guage Consulting Congressi, Milan
Printed by Guardamagna Corrado e Luigi tipografi in Varzi
The photographs reproduced herein belong to the Archive of the
Municipality of Milan, except where otherwise indicated.
First Italian edition 2008
© 2008 Casa Editrice Marietti S.p.A. - Genova-Milano
English edition
© 2010 Guardamagna Editori - Varzi (Pv)
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Totus mundus notra habitatio fit
Jeronimo Nadal
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Table of Contents
Prefaceby Antonio Ferrari Pag. 9
Chapter I. Wherein it is recounted a curious 15
contest between titans, the counsel of the
gnomes and a hammer at the White House
Chapter II. Wherein it is recounted the ex- 39
ploits of the American master, his broken win-
dow, European friendships and the grandeur of
our French cousins
Chapter III. Wherein are recounted strange 61
ironies of fate involving the descendants of the
revolutions and the heirs of the “little factories”
Chapter IV. Wherein it is discussed whether 85
the heirs of Julius Caesar still live in London
Chapter V. Wherein are narrated various and 99
sundry encounters with the sentinels of global
security
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Chapter VI. Wherein it is recounted how Pag. 115
sometimes, when wandering the desert, one
can stumble upon a pillar of wisdom
Chapter VII. Wherein are recounted stories 135
of the Eternal City, the Holy Land and the spir-
itual teachers who live there
Chapter VIII. Wherein it is recounted the lost 157
memory of ancient battles and the exploits of
footsoldiers, sailors and winged horsemen
Chapter IX. Wherein are recounted tales of 172
great architects, new urban alchemists and pos-
sibly perfect condominiums
A true leader* 185
Index of names 187
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Preface
“Character is destiny”. This observation by Heraclitus, often
ignored or forgotten but nonetheless true, always and for every-
one, is useful when describing exceptional individuals whose
very character causes them to have an impact on the world
around them that goes beyond the role that life or fortune has
chosen for them.
One such individual is surely the former mayor of Milan
and current member of the European Parliament, Gabriele Al-
bertini. A businessman-cum-politician, he doesn’t have much
of the businessman in him, insofar as it is not in his nature to
combine his iron determination with the cynicism of the busi-
ness world. He has even less of the politician in him, for he is
anything but a cold calculator and is incapable of dissimula-
tion. If he is pleased, worried or furious, you can read it in his
eyes – but that isn’t even necessary, for before you can do so, he
will have already volunteered an explanation as to the state of
his soul.
After getting to know him, spending time with him and be-
coming his friend, I think I can claim to understand – and ob-
viously share – what Indro Montanelli1 said and wrote about
Albertini. The great journalist was struck not only by Alber-
tini’s ability and enthusiasm, but by his proud determination
to preserve his own autonomy of judgment, despite adhering