Poste Italiane will reach the 160-year milestone and celebrate its anniversary, on Thursday 5 May, with an institutional event at the Nuvola dell’Eur venue. Here are all the pictures and minute-by-minute coverage of the event.
EVENT REPORT
11:10 – SERGIO MATTARELLA: THANKS TO POSTE ITALIANE FOR ITS HISTORY
President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella was greeted on stage by a long round of applause at the Nuvola dell’Eur venue during the event for the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane. The Head of State, highlighting parallels between the history of the Italian postal service and the history of Italy, noted the importance of the Polis project for small municipalities and the work of the company during the Covid-19 emergency. “Thanks to Poste Italiane for this history,” the President of the Republic concluded between applause. “The Polis project contained in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Poste Italiane’s one-stop shop for public services in all municipalities, particularly in small towns, demonstrates the close relationship with people and local areas that the company has confirmed in recent years,” Mattarella said. “The commitment to ensuring no one is left behind is a great contribution to our country, to important local areas whose condition will enable further development of the country.
11:00 – MATTEO DEL FANTE: MOVING TOWARDS THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, ROOTED IN OUR HISTORY
“Poste Italiane does not want to leave anyone behind, maintaining a 160-year commitment, and with our important history we will play an equally important role in the country’s future.” This was the conclusion of the speech from Poste Italiane’s CEO, Matteo Del Fante, who emphasised: “Poste Italiane is not just about the market, products, and profit and loss accounts. Our commitment to rural areas was clearly demonstrated this morning, and we place great importance on the Polis project, because of our desire to engage with offices of smaller municipalities and the services of the Public Administration. The pandemic”, he added, “was a really important moment, confronting us with a challenge that at times made even us doubt our ability to overcome it. For 100,000 people at Poste Italiane, smart working was not an option: so we give a big thank you for the spirit of service and dedication from all Poste Italiane employees.”
10:55 – MATTEO DEL FANTE: POSTE IS A PLATFORM COMPANY SERVING A SOCIAL FUNCTION FOR ITALY
“Today, Poste Italiane is a company serving a social function for the country as a whole. Our company acts as a platform, supporting the needs of our customers through our own innovative means, but also by consolidating our presence across the country. “Every Italian can reach a physical branch of Poste Italiane in less than five minutes: a network that allows us to have 20 million interactions with Italians every day.” These were the words of Poste Italiane’s CEO Matteo Del Fante at the event for the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane, held at the Nuvola dell’Eur venue.
10:50 – GIUSEPPE LASCO: PROUD TO HAVE SERVED THE COUNTRY DURING THE PANDEMIC
“We are proud of our colleagues for their efforts during the pandemic, bringing prestige to our company and serving the country.” These were the words of Giuseppe Lasco, Co-General Manager of Poste Italiane, during the event celebrating the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane. “We would like to recognise all of our colleagues across the country who have proudly demonstrated that they are ready to respond to the company’s call, remaining at their posts in all the most critical areas, guaranteeing services on a continuous and permanent basis, and guaranteeing issue of pensions to the elderly through an agreement with the Carabinieri force.”
10:40 – ALBERTO ANGELA: “POST-OFFICE BUILDINGS IN ITALY ARE BEAUTIFUL TREASURES”
Also on stage at the event for the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane was Alberto Angela, who wanted to tell “a story that concerns me personally, about when my father was travelling abroad as a correspondent. I received letters and sometimes parcels. It was always a joy, like opening a present under the Christmas tree. At that time there was no Internet, no texting. A letter had enormous value, and the arrival of a parcel made me feel close to someone far away. Reading postcards, I would discover faraway places, fuelling my imagination.” Alberto Angela, who presented a series of Poste Italiane’s historical objects, retraced the ancient history of postal communications, also noting the beauty of Poste Italiane buildings, “such as the one in Piazza San Silvestro in Rome, the one in Palermo and the one in La Spezia”. Going back through the centuries, he highlighted that “it was Augustus who invented the cursu publicus, a genuine postal network. Letters at the time were often tablets with a layer of wax on which a text was engraved.” Mr Angela then discussed the work and figure of postmen and postwomen, before speaking specifically about the role of women at Poste Italiane, including Matilde Serao as a telegrapher and the photos of postman Vincenzo Foglio, rediscovered by Mario Cordero. He then showed a military field post office, describing how during the First War, “4 billion letters were exchanged to and from the front”. Finally, he offered a reflection on the dramatic current international situation: “Taking care of someone’s happiness is a beautiful thing, but if that person has lost everything, it is a necessity. Everything is ruled by love, even if the bombs seem to indicate otherwise,” Alberto Angela concluded.
10:35 – GIANCARLO GIORGETTI: ALONGSIDE POSTE ITALIANE FOR PROJECT POLIS
“The Italian Ministry of Economic Development must work alongside Poste Italiane to ensure full implementation of the Polis Project to provide a dedicated counter for a range of services provided by the public administration.” These were the words of Minister Giorgetti at the event for the 160th anniversary of the Poste Italiane. According to Giorgetti, this is a “major challenge that Poste Italiane will be able to overcome, further demonstrating its ability to adapt”.
10:30 – GIANCARLO GIORGETTI: POSTE ITALIANE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DIGITAL REVOLUTION
“Poste Italiane is reacting well to the digital revolution by transforming” technological changes “into opportunities and new services for citizens”. These were the words of the Minister for Economic Development, Giancarlo Giorgetti, at the event for the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane.
10:25 – GIANCARLO GIORGETTI: POST OFFICES ARE INDISPENSABLE ASSET
“Post offices represent concrete symbols of public presence in everyday life” where citizens find “support and clarification to carry out a range of procedures and protect their savings: a welcome and essential service, especially for senior citizens”. These were the words of the Minister for Economic Development, Giancarlo Giorgetti, at the event for the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane. “The widespread distribution of post offices,” he added, “constitutes a real asset”.
10.15 – MARIA BIANCA FARINA: “WE WANT TO HELP SHAPE A FUTURE OF INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT”
“Poste Italiane,” continued Chairperson Farina, “is very attentive to ethical issues, and to ESG policies. It is always alongside young and old and promotes volunteering. Today, the company is contributing to Italy’s green transition, with the aim of continuing its growth. We are proud to be an integral part of the Italian system and to honour our nation’s flag. We will continue to do so, not only with our extensive experience, but also with enthusiasm and the strength to set a course for the future. A future of change, innovation and development, which we want to help shape and imagine. Best wishes to Poste Italiane and best wishes to our great country,” concluded the Chairperson of Poste Italiane, Maria Bianca Farina.
10:12 – POSTE ITALIANE CHAIRPERSON, MARIA BIANCA FARINA: “CLOSE TO PEOPLE, EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES”
“Women have been working for the Italian postal service since its foundation. Right from the start we were innovators, the company was involved in complex activities, maintaining a close relationship with citizens, even in difficult times. Thanks to the work of employees, Covid vaccines were distributed and essential services guaranteed during extended lockdowns. Even in these dramatic months of war, there have been many initiatives by groups of colleagues who travelled to Poland to support women and children arriving there”. These were the words of the Chairperson of Poste Italiane, Maria Bianca Farina, whose speech opened the event celebrating the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane, at the Nuvola dell’Eur venue.
10.10 – MARIA BIANCA FARINA: TECHNOLOGY AND A NETWORKED STRUCTURE COMBINING TRADITION AND INNOVATION
“Poste Italiane contributes actively to the technological evolution of the country, and it is also important to note its role in combining tradition and innovation by maintaining a networked presence across the country, as a key priority. These were the words of Chairperson Maria Bianca Farina in her speech at the event for the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane.
10:05 – POSTE ITALIANE CHAIRPERSON, MARIA BIANCA FARINA: “SERVING THE COUNTRY FOR 160 YEARS”
“Just one year after the unification of Italy, on 5 May 1862, the Regie Poste postal service was founded. Ever since, our great company has continued to deliver on its core mission, to support the country in its development, reflecting its values.” The Chairperson of Poste Italiane, Maria Bianca Farina, opened the event to celebrate 160 years of Poste Italiane at the Nuvola dell’Eur venue with her speech, thanking the President of the Republic and all those present for coming to celebrate these “160 years of history serving Italy.”
10:00 – THE HISTORY OF ITALY AND THE HISTORY OF POSTE ITALIANE: A VIDEO JOURNEY AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE COMPANY
On the huge video wall of the Nuvola venue, before the eyes of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and institutional representatives, images of key moments from the last 160 years of our country played out, alternating with figures who have outlined the history of the Italian postal service since its foundation in 1862.
09:50 – THE ITALIAN ANTHEM PLAYS AND THE EVENT FOR THE 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF POSTE ITALIANE GETS UNDERWAY
The event for the 160th anniversary of Poste Italiane kicks off: the notes of the Italian anthem, performed by the Band of the Carabinieri police force fills the packed hall of the Nuvola dell’Eur venue. In the front row sits the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, along with numerous institutional representatives and top management.
