PORTOFINO. “We’re sorry, but it’s an NDA case.” A case of what, sorry? «Non disclosure agreement. In short: non-disclosure agreement. Mr. Vincenzo Dascanio, in charge of the ceremonial, cannot reveal even a detail about the big party he is organizing in Portofino.” Of course, confidentiality: but how do you keep a secret like that hidden?
The third son of the eleventh richest man in the world, Mr. Mukesh Ambani, an Indian magnate with petrochemical industries, textile factories, repeat shops, telephone companies and a fortune estimated by Forbes at around 113 billion dollars, will be in Portofino tomorrow evening with eight hundred guests for the second pre-wedding party.
He is about to marry one of the richest women from another family of Indian billionaires, that of Viren Merchant, head of a pharmaceutical giant. In short: the Anant Ambani scion and the Radhika Merchant scion will be in Portofino, after an extra-luxury private cruise from Palermo to the French Riviera, for another party preparatory to the fateful yes. After the first pre-wedding reception in March in the city of Jamnagar, in the western state of Gujarat, attended by all the richest families in the world and with Rihanna hired for 8 million euros in concert.
Here is the second pre-wedding celebration in the little square of Portofino, to which all the same richest families in the world have been invited, but this time the tenor Andrea Bocelli will perform on stage for a sum – at the moment – reserved. Title of the evening: «Dolce Vita». They say that Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and John Elkann will also be there. Entrepreneurs and financiers. Hollywood and Bollywood actors. Even if no one is certain about it.
«What a frenzy! There are only a few hours to go and we don’t understand anything”, says the boatman at the mooring of the “Motor Marine” with an amused look. «We don’t know if we will be able to work, if we will be able to sail or if the port will be closed. Many ask us to come to the party from the sea.” Can not be done. Because Portofino will have a limited number of places. Reserved for celebrations from 5.30pm to 10.30pm. Only four categories of people can enter the square: guests, residents, workers, or guests of hotels and restaurants with a reservation. A bracelet will distinguish gatekeepers.
The mayor of Portofino, Matteo Viacava, took the decision after tormented days: «There were many discussions on the type of event. Portofino will be the stopover for a private party. But we want this country to be open to everyone, so we have set two conditions: the opening hours are limited to six hours, so that for the rest of the time we can live a normal day. And then the concert of an Italian star of international appeal, to send a postcard from Portofino to the whole world. And with Bocelli we were satisfied.” The fact remains that the country will be privatised, say the dissatisfied. «It is an extraordinary event, as was the Dolce&Gabbana party», explains Mayor Viacava. «Entry had to be limited for security reasons. My heart, which usually doesn’t make mistakes, says that this is a very good thing for Portofino and that we will send a wonderful image. When they confirmed the Bocelli concert for me, I understood that it was right to have this experience.”
Barriers, reserved parking, controls on the small road from Santa Margherita Ligure. During the pre-wedding party in the village there will be 1,800 people. But it is precisely the word pronounced by Mayor Viacava that seems to be the most popular in Portofino: “Experience”. All the restaurants joined the program, except four that were loyal to regular customers. «Each of them will cook a traditional Ligurian dish, which will then be served for a walking experience of local food».
After the headquarters of the «Italian Yacht Club». After the «Splendido mare Gym». They say that the party’s ship will dock at the tip of the pier. And then, slowly, the eight hundred guests will be disembarked in the small square on board large tenders brought in for the occasion. In front of the petrol station that supplies the beasts of the sea, there are now «Tuffetto», «Cicci» and «Romolìn» who work on the quay and observe the passage of boats and people. «Belin, what absurd stuff!». «Will there be girls?». “Look! It’s Aquila, Magic Johnson’s yacht. You came back again this year.” Giorgio Devoto, known as “il Tigre”, arrives, 81 years old, who served in the town’s municipal council for more than thirty years. He is one of the 180 residents of Portofino. «Here Winston Churchill disembarked from Onassis’ yacht, and he made the victory sign with his fingers, you don’t know what emotion», he says with his face in the sun. How has Portofino changed in recent years? «There are fewer residents, fewer children, less love for this splendid place to which we must all say thank you, because it fed everyone. There is no longer the care of the past, but not even the charisma of the people. Now everyone comes and disappears without leaving their mark.” Who knows if what “the Tiger” says is true, or if it is melancholy for the time that cannot return.
The guests are arriving at the billionaires’ party, a private party in a public place. And then off, towards the next “experience”: Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant will get married on 12 July in Mumbai.
