The world famous Italian ski resort
of Cervinia has reverted to its pre-Fascist name of Le Breuil
sparking an outcry from Premier Giorgia Meloni's rightwing
Brothers of Italy (FdI) party which has characterised the name
change as "worthy of the Taleban".
FdI heavyweight and tourism minister Daniela Santanchè urged the
local council to "think again" saying that the local winter
sports industry would be "heavily penalised by dropping a brand
name that is known across the world".
FdI Deputy House Whip Fabio Rampelli called on the government to
intervene and get the name changed back saying the move had been
"anti-Italian" and against the Italian Constitution.
Le Breuil became Cervinia in the 1930s as part of Benito
Mussolini's drive to Italianize many northern place names,
giving them Italian ones instead of French or German ones.
Many comuni in Val d'Aosta, where Cervinia-Le Breuil is, became
known under new Italian names, as did many comuni in Alto
Adige-South Tyrol on the Austrian border.
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