Historical Walking Tour: Station 2
Adenauer as a churchgoer and encounters with locals
Here in the province of Como, I would be elected by a large majority.
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Honorary Citizen of Cadenabbia di Griante
His Christian faith played an important role for Konrad Adenauer throughout his life and was an integral part of his everyday life. As in Rhöndorf, he regularly attended Holy Mass on Sunday mornings during his stays in Cadenabbia. He was usually accompanied by one or more of his daughters. Adenauer and his companions covered the way from the "Villa La Collina" to the village church "Chiesa dei Santi Nabore e Felice" on foot. Locals and visitors often greeted Adenauer on the way to or from the church or walked behind the Chancellor's group. These church walks, which were visible to the public, contributed significantly to his popularity locally.
Honorary Citizen of Cadenabbia di Griante
During his last stay as Federal Chancellor, Adenauer invited local and regional dignitaries to a reception at the Hotel Bellevue in Cadenabbia on 12 September 1963 as a special gesture of solidarity, which also expressed the statesman's appreciation for the local population. Conversely, Adenauer had already been made an honorary citizen of Cadenabbia di Griante during his first stay at Lake Como in February/March 1957 – the prominent visitor remained loyal to the place; in September/October 1966, about half a year before his death, he was a guest at the "Villa La Collina" for the last time. During his stays, he also received local groups and dignitaries there. On such occasions, the (former) chancellor was sometimes presented with local dances or other cultural performances. He was "always impressed by the friendly welcome and hospitality that I am met with everywhere."
Local contacts
Among the locals with whom Adenauer was repeatedly in contact during his stays were the mayor of Griante, Paolo Roda, the chairman of the tourist association and doctor Giovanni Zampa, the local priest Don Fernando Nani, who sometimes celebrated Sunday mass as a young priest, and Renzo Toscani. The latter was a singer and hairdresser at the same time, had studied singing at the Milan Conservatory as a young man, but then took over his father's hairdressing business in Griante. When Adenauer visited and attended Holy Mass, he sometimes appeared as a soloist with church songs in the service to pay special tribute to the faithful prominent guest. In addition, he was simply Adenauer's holiday hairdresser. So it happened that “the old man”, while his hair was being cut, was also presented with singing interludes. According to Toscani, Adenauer hummed along and allegedly sang along. Adenauer spoke hardly any Italian and Toscani no German, but they communicated with each other as best they could in French.
Incidentally, "The Old Man" was a mostly respectful nickname for Adenauer. The term was widespread among the West German public as well as in the media.
Outside the village, at an altitude of 475 meters, is the small pilgrimage church "San Martino", which Adenauer had a good view of from the park of the "Villa La Collina" including the mountain. He hiked to this popular destination with his daughters at least twice, as long as he could still physically cope with the steep ascent. From there, the visitor has a fantastic view over the lake, the mountain silhouette of the Engadine and the surrounding villages.
