Rehoboth delegation celebrates in Greve

Rehoboth Beach now has an Italian garden.

As sister-city Greve in Chanti, Italy, celebrated Verrazzano Day April 17, more than two dozen people from Rehoboth joined the celebration, highlighted by the planting of a garden in Rehoboth's honor.

The garden was planted a few blocks from Greve’s city hall. Explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, a Greve native, serves as the link between the two cities; Rehoboth has a statue commemorating his exploration of the coast of Delaware on the Boardwalk at Olive Avenue.

Commissioner Pat Coluzzi, representing the city as vice mayor, led the group of 28 people from Rehoboth and said the trip also included a visit to the U.S. consulate in nearby Florence, sightseeing and participating in the laying of wreaths at a bridge and statue dedicated to Verrazzano.

Coluzzi said the dedication ceremony was the most memorable part of the trip. She said before the monument at the garden was unveiled, it was covered by the flag of Rehoboth and Greve. "It was amazing," she said.

Coluzzi said the trip was made all the better by the hospitality of their Italian brethern.

"The people were wonderful. You couldn't ask for better people," she said.

Of course, getting to experience the famous Italian food and wine didn't hurt either.

"You can't get bad food in Italy...or bad wine for that matter," Coluzzi said.

The trip commemorates the two-year anniversary of the signing of the sister cities agreement between Greve and Rehoboth. The cities have alternated visits during the summer, and Coluzzi said a delegation from Greve will be coming in June 2013 to participate in a garden dedication for Greve.

Last year, Greve Mayor Alberto Bencista was presented with a key to the city by Rehoboth Mayor Sam Cooper as part of his delegation’s three-day visit to Delaware. The sister cities agreement between the two cities, signed in Greve in 2010, is meant to promote tourism and foster cultural, artistic and educational exchange.