Tuscany recently paid tribute to the memory of the 32 people who lost their lives in the Costa Concordia shipwreck that occurred on January 13, 2012.
A laurel wreath bearing the words Comune Isola del Giglio (Municipality of Giglio Island) was placed in the sea in front of the Costa Concordia shipwreck, following the blessing of bishop Gugliemo Borghetti, mayor of Giglio Sergio Ortelli and Costa Crociere representative Beniamino Maltese. Relatives of victims also placed a bunch of flowers in the sea to remember their loved ones. A mass was held in the church of Saints Lorenzo and Mamiliano, the same church where many of the survivors took refuge on the night of the tragedy.
Captain of Costa Concordia Francesco Schettino, on trial for multiple manslaughter and abandonment of the ship, commented, ‘I express my most profound condolences and my closeness to the victims’ families.’
On the second anniversary of the shipwreck, some of the victims’ relatives held a sit-in at the Grosseto courthouse to commemorate the tragedy.