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Italian mayor apologizes after Pavarotti statue encased in ice rink
The mayor of Pesaro, Italy, has issued an apology to the family of late opera legend Luciano Pavarotti after a bronze statue honoring the tenor was surrounded by a temporary Christmas ice rink, leaving it partially submerged in ice. The decision sparked outrage from Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, who called the move a "ridiculous" treatment of her late husband's legacy.
Family's reaction and public backlash
Nicoletta Mantovani expressed her anger in an interview with local media, stating she was "angry and upset" by what she described as the town's "poorly executed, absurd decision." The statue, unveiled in April 2024, depicts Pavarotti in life-size bronze and stands in Pesaro's central piazza-a town where the singer owned a villa and was an honorary citizen.
Mantovani criticized the council for allowing the statue to be "ridiculed," telling Il Resto del Carlino, "I didn't expect a town would allow this treatment of the memory and the image of a person who made Italy great around the world."
Mayor's response and admission of error
Pesaro Mayor Andrea Biancani acknowledged the misstep, admitting the council "made a mistake" and insisting he had "no intention to offend anyone." He revealed that initial plans for the ice rink, opened on November 29, assured the statue would remain untouched. However, designers later altered the layout, encasing the monument in perspex walls with ice reaching Pavarotti's knees.
Biancani defended the decision as irreversible at this stage but pledged it "would not happen again." Before the rink's opening, he had shared a doctored image on social media depicting the statue playing ice hockey with the hashtag #DaiUnCinqueAPavarotti ("Give a high-five to Pavarotti"), further fueling criticism.
Pavarotti's legacy and connection to Pesaro
Luciano Pavarotti, one of history's most celebrated tenors, was renowned for his performances in the Three Tenors concerts and his iconic 1990 World Cup rendition of Nessun Dorma. His final public appearance came at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, months before his death from pancreatic cancer at age 71.
The statue in Pesaro, where Pavarotti and Mantovani frequently vacationed, was unveiled in a ceremony attended by his widow and daughter Alice. Mantovani, his second wife, later remarried in 2020.
Next steps
While the ice rink will remain in place through the holiday season, Biancani's apology signals an end to further controversies involving the statue. The incident, dubbed "Pavarotti on Ice" by local press, has reignited discussions about balancing civic celebrations with respect for cultural icons.
