Sophia Loren given Honorary Citizen of Sorrento award

In ceremonies held at the beautiful Hilton Sorrento Palace - a modern hotel set in a lemon grove with views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius - Mrs. Sophia Loren received the Golden Key of the city of Sorrento as an Honorary Citizen. The city of Sorrento gained world recognition in 1955 when it served as the backdrop for the film “Pane amore e fantasia,” which was directed by Mr. Dino Risi. In the world-renowned film, Mrs. Loren starred opposite the late Vittorio De Sica.

Voted on by the Sorrento Municipality Councilors, the symbolic key of the city, which represents a masterpiece of gold craftsmanship, was given to Mrs. Loren by Sorrento Mayor Marco Fiorentino and by the president of the Sorrento Foundation, Mr. Gianluca Aponte.

Mr. Aponte is owner of the ship MSC Crociere and had asked Mrs. Loren, as an honorary guest, to help launch his new ships. The latest of which, MSDC-Fantasia, was launched in September 2008 and is considered as one of the most modern ships in the world.

Mrs. Loren, now 74, is an Italian film actress, widely considered to be the most popular Italian actress of her time. She has received numerous awards throughout her career, most recently the Academy Honorary Award in 1991 for her contributions to world cinema when she was declared "one of the world cinema's treasures." In 1995, she received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.

The Hilton Sorrento Palace, where the award ceremony took place, is located eight miles from the Amalfi Coast (listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and renowned for its rugged terrain and quaint, picturesque towns). It is 30 miles from the province of Naples, where Sopha was born in the city of Pozzuoli.


Source: eturbonews.com