Farewell to Franco Tentorio, the mayor who defined an era in Bergamo

Bergamo woke up to news that stopped everyone in their tracks. Franco Tentorio, the man who led our city from the late '90s through the turn of the millennium, has passed away at 81. He wasn't just an ex-mayor leaving us; it's a piece of Bergamo's recent history closing a chapter. I've seen him around so many times, followed his battles, and today, like many others, I feel the need to pause for a moment and remember.

It was 1995 when Franco Tentorio won the election. For us Bergamasks, used to a certain administrative continuity, his arrival brought a breath of fresh air. I remember him chatting with people at the market, straight-up, no filter, with that bluntness that's perhaps been missing in politics lately. He wasn't one for lofty speeches: he faced things head-on, and those who knew him well know that beneath that resolute exterior was a passion for this city that went far beyond just holding office.

He held the reins of the city for two terms, until 2004. They were complex years: Italy was changing, the province was trying to carve out a new space for itself after the end of the First Republic, and Bergamo had to contend with urban expansion that demanded vision. He wasn't an easy mayor, and maybe that's exactly why he was loved. His legacy is made of tangible things, the kind you can still see today while strolling around the city.

The man behind the mayoral sash

It would be impossible to talk about Franco Tentorio without mentioning his deep-rooted connection to Bergamo. Born in '45, a child of a different era, he had grown up through the post-war reconstruction and then the desire for renewal of the 1970s. When he sat in the mayor's chair, he knew every decision would be scrutinised. And he never looked away.

His strength was his ability to listen, even to those who didn't see eye to eye with him. In an era before social media, politics happened in party branches, in clubs, but most of all, on the streets. And he was a master of that. Those who were his political opponents today remember him with respect, because he knew how to separate a heated debate from personal respect. A lesson that perhaps we need now more than ever.

Places and memories of an entire community

If I had to think of a symbol of his work, a plaque or an inauguration wouldn't come to mind, but rather the way he interpreted the role. During his time in office, Bergamo saw major projects take shape. He used to say that a city isn't built just with construction sites, but with its people. And maybe he was right. Just think about how he managed the dialogue with the industries in our area, a fundamental pillar for a city that never forgets it’s also a hub for ideas and businesses.

In recent years, after stepping away from active politics, it wasn't unusual to bump into him in the city centre. A coffee at the café, a chat with old friends. He hadn't lost that air of a practical intellectual, able to talk about anything with the same passion. His passing, which happened yesterday, leaves a void that goes beyond politics.

For many, it feels like a touchstone is gone. Those who, like him, helped build the city we live in, we don't easily forget. Because the memory of a good leader isn't measured just in numbers or city councils, but in the memories he leaves in our piazzas, on our streets, in everyday life.

• 1995-1999: First term as mayor, marked by a direct and innovative approach for its time.
• 1999-2004: Re-elected to lead the city, tackling the challenges of the new millennium with the same determination.
• A life for Bergamo: Born in 1945, he lived through decades of change, always remaining a pillar for the community.

Today Bergamo mourns Franco Tentorio. The national political spotlight may not be on, but here, along Via XX Settembre, in Piazza Vecchia, under the porticoes, his absence is deeply felt. Because when a man has given so much of himself in service to his homeland, the gratitude of the people is the only monument that matters. And that is what we are all giving him today, with the silence and respect that true men deserve.