Sanremo 2026 pays homage to the 80 years of the Italian Republic with the presence of Gianna Pratesi, 105 next year March 16th. Originally from Chiavari, born in 1920, she was 26 years old when the Republic was born. Pratesi was among the women who voted for the first time in 1946. And it is precisely to remember that historical moment that he is a guest of the festival, accompanied by her sons Alessandro and Marco. The referendum of 1946, when Pratesi voted, sanctioned the birth of the Italian Republic.
Sanremo 2026: who is Gianna Pratesi, the 105-year-old from Chiavari guest at the festival
Gianna Pratesi is 105 years old. He lived between his native Chiavari and Scotlandwhere he landed in 1948. Here he worked as an ice cream maker. He was 26 years old when he voted for the Italian Republic. She was among the women who, for the first time, were able to go to the polls in 1946. «Finally a dark page was over, everything changed, everything changed», he told the newspaper La Repubblica. A bit of Gianna Pratesi’s story returns to the Ariston stage. Paola also spoke about that period and those women Cortellesi in his successful film There’s still tomorrow.
«His presence must make everyone reflect – said Carlo Conti during the press conference to present the first evening of Sanremo 2026 – it must make us think of those who lost their lives, the partisans who liberated Italy from the Nazi-fascist dictatorship and gave us this Italy where the festival is now located. Under the radar, certain things need to make you think. An event like Sanremo cannot be three hours of proclamations and reflections, but every now and then there must be a moment to reflect».
Gianna Pratesi in Sanremo. (Getty Images)
Gianna Pratesi painter, singer, musician and viral on TikTok
Mrs. Pratesi’s life is marked by art: singer, musician and painter. He plays the piano and La vie en rose” It’s his workhorse. His paintings embellish his home in Chiavari. The paintbrush marked his life, like the pen he used to vote 80 years ago. in Liguria she was in fact the first woman in the regional collective of painters.
The old woman, representative of a piece of Italian history, sings, dances, plays the piano and paints still lifes, panoramas and seascapes. And his videos have gone viral on TikTok.
Gianna’s lesson at the festival
After Luchè, Gianna Pratesi arrived on stage accompanied by her sons Alessandro and Marco. She brought a gift to Carlo Conti, a painting she had painted. On that vote of 2 June 1946 he says: «I voted for the Republic. My whole family was left-wing. Finally women were voting.” He also talked about his favorite songs: «I like the songs by Ornella Vanoni, 24 thousand kisses by Celentano and Mamma Maria by Ricchi e Poveri».
Then Carlo Conti asked her the secret of longevity (she who reads three newspapers a day at the age of 105 without glasses) and some advice to give to young people: «I had a beautiful youth and a golden family. What I didn’t like I didn’t eat. To young people I say: Don’t be harsh with others. You have to love and love yourself.” A long round of applause finally greeted her, talkative and friendly, and as clear-headed as someone 30 years younger, while Pausini gave her a bouquet of flowers: «Hers is a wonderful story that represents all of us Italian women who have been freer since 1946».
