Two works also came about: a book written by Arcidiacono, 'Armando Picchi - Un nome già scritto Lassù', containing more than 150 photographs made available by the Picchi family, and a documentary film 'Armando Picchi - Diario di Bordo del Capitano', with the idea coming from a journalist of the newspaper Il Tirreno (Maria Antonietta Schiavina) and produced by director Massimo Ferrari. The documentary will be shown on the opening day of this new exhibition.
The event had not gone unnoticed for the directors of Milan’s Biblioteca Comunale Centrale [Central Municipal Library] and they certainly weren’t indifferent to its content. In fact, it would be a mistake to consider it simply as a sport and football exhibition dedicated to Armando Picchi. What emerges more than anything else is the man. This is evident in the various books dedicated to Picchi, such as 'Capitano, mio Capitano' by Nando dalla Chiesa (winner of the Bancarella Sport Award in 2000). It is evident in Ferrari’s documentary. And it's evident in the 'Armando Picchi, libero davvero' exhibition, in which the photos alone are enough to tell Armando’s story, his passion, humanity and spirituality.
He was a true libero, in every sense of the word’s meaning: free. Free from standard practices, since after every game (back then matches were always on Sunday) he commonly went to eat at his mother’s house in Livorno. Free from the slavery of celebrity, since he always maintained the same friends (those who referred to him as Armandino) with whom he spent his summer holidays in Livorno at the Bagni Fiume, and with whom he played countless matches of ‘gabbione’ (an early predecessor of five-a-side football). Armando Picchi was free from the slavery of wealth, since he was generous with everyone and often performed charity work, frequently with his Inter team-mates. And finally, Picchi was free on the pitch, just as his position called for, and as was characterised by his cheeky 'disobedience' towards another great personality of Angelo Moratti’s Inter team: Helenio 'Il Mago' Herrera.
Featuring at the 'Armando Picchi, libero davvero' exhibition will be the European Cup trophy; the first one conquered by Inter and which captain Picchi raised in Vienna in 1964 (this year marks the 50th anniversary). Also on display will be the Intercontinental Cup, also won in 1964. Furthermore, there will be photos and personal documents from the player, a bust from the San Siro Museum and the shirts he wore in the finals from 1964, courtesy of SMS di Milano. But above all, and made available just for this special event, there will be a rich assortment of newspapers from the era, provided by the Biblioteca Sormani.
The exhibition’s opening is scheduled for Thursday 12 June at 19:00 and can be attended by the general public. The exhibition will remain open until 22 July.
Visiting hours run from 9:00 to 19:30, Monday to Saturday. Admission is free.
