Written on 3 July, updated on 4 July 2026
Following the death of her husband Filippo Rusca in recent days, Silvia Tofanelli has also passed away.
The story of Silvia and Filippo, who captivated the whole of Milan
‘You were handsome, incredibly handsome, intelligent and cultured. I shall miss you terribly.’ This is the announcement marking the city’s most beautiful love story of the late twentieth century. According to Goffredo Parise, she was the most beautiful girl in Italy; according to the Milanese, she was certainly the most beautiful in the city.
Silvia Tofanelli, charming and with no shortage of suitors, met Filippo Rusca, the most eccentric of his time, when the ‘ganzi’ were all the rage. They fell in love, got together, left their partners behind, became the talk of the city’s salons, and got married. They were a happy couple. He has passed away; this is how she remembers him. We who witnessed them as the most beautiful couple of their time.
Lina Sotis, 23 June 2024
See also My Mother’s Friends, Giorgina Venosta: Lina Sotis and Silvia Tofanelli
With thanks to Eleonora Sàita
