Mauro Mori and Michele Lorenzini became the first same-sex couple to have their civil union recognized in the history of Florence on August 11, 2016. The morning ceremony took place in the Sala Rossa of Palazzo Vecchio, in the presence of Mayor Dario Nardella, who quoted the Indian writer Tarun Tejpal: “Two things can save us in life: love and laughter. If you have one, you’ll be fine. If you have both, you’re invincible.” As reported by La Repubblica, Nardella went on to joke that the couple should call him if they start fighting.
After the ceremony, Mori and Lorenzini celebrated with confetti and rice in the courtyard of Palazzo Vecchio to the tune of The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love.”