Mario Razzanelli (left) at Florence City Hall. [Photo/Yongpai App]

After 68 trips to China over the past 22 years, former Florence city councilor Mario Razzanelli submitted a heartfelt proposal to the Florence municipal government: the creation of an official Ningbo Day.

On Dec 19, the 80‑year‑old walked into Florence City Hall and formally recommended that the celebration be held each year on Oct 21 — a date shared by both cities.

On Oct 21, 2006, a replica of Michelangelo's David was unveiled in Ningbo, becoming a cultural sensation in both China and Italy. Razzanelli was the key figure responsible for bringing the statue to Ningbo. His connection with Ningbo began in 2003, when he visited the city for the first time during the Ningbo International Fashion Fair. Deeply impressed, he vowed to promote the city in Florence.

Since then, he has played a pivotal role in strengthening ties: the arrival of David in 2006, the establishment of sister‑city relations in 2008, Ningbo's gift of a Southern Song (1127-1279) stone sculpture to Florence, the installation of a Dante bronze statue in Ningbo in 2011, and the opening of the Sino-Italy Ningbo Ecological Park in 2014.

Florence's City Hall even houses a 13th‑century Italian map of China that clearly marks Ningbo, a detail Razzanelli describes as a symbol of their centuries‑old connection.

His proposal envisions cultural events, mayoral forums, and cooperation in green technology and fashion. Florence's cultural and business leaders have voiced strong support, while Ningbo officials believe a dedicated sister‑city day would energize international exchanges in the new era.