Twin Siblings Celebrate Remarkable 100th Birthday Milestone Near Florence

Bagno a Ripoli: There was a big party in Bagno a Ripoli near Florence this week for two centenarian twins, Paola and Paolo Anzidei, born on May 26, 1925, who celebrated the milestone with relatives and friends.

According to Ansa News Agency, about forty people gathered to celebrate both in Paterno, a hamlet, in the house where Paolo lives assisted by a carer. Paola Anzidei, instead, is a guest of a nursing home in Fiesole together with her husband Adolfo, who is 98 years old.

“Those who have known him all their lives didn’t want to miss it. He is really well-liked by everyone,” said Sonia, an acquired relative of Paolo who lives in the same building as the new centenarian, on the upper floor. “He also has a great sense of humor. When he found out what we were organizing and that they would also interview him, he said, ‘I’m going to call in sick.’ It was a beautiful party, they were very lively, more ‘protagonists’ than excited. There was emotion when they saw each other, after about a year, even if they spoke on the phone.”

Both childless, Paolo Anzidei worked as a salesman for clothing and underwear. During the Second World War, he was captured by the Germans after September 8, 1943. Taken to Cassino (Latina), he was used as forced labor to build bunkers along the ‘Hitler line’, but managed to escape and return to Florence, on foot, after many days of walking.

Paola Anzidei lived for years in the hamlet of Antella – still in the municipality of Bagno a Ripoli – together with her husband and worked in a laundry. The municipal administration also participated in the party with the mayor Francesco Pignotti and the councilor Sandra Baragli who gave Paolo and Paola Anzidei a commemorative plaque “for the beautiful goal achieved.”

“There’s not much to do,” the mayor commented jokingly on social media, “in Bagno a Ripoli the air is good!”