DeSantis, state agency heads to attend private Andrea Bocelli concert in Florence, Italy

World-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli is giving a private concert on Tuesday to an audience that includes Florida’s Ron DeSantis, state agency heads and Italian businessmen and dignitaries as the Republican governor leads a week-long trade-mission in Italy.

The private concert was planned at Palazzo Borghese in Florence, with an expected crowd of about 200 people, according to a source familiar with the event. Bocelli invited Florida delegation members and Italian business leaders to see him sing at no cost to the delegation, the source said.

DeSantis’ trade-mission in Italy was announced on Friday, but the concert was not disclosed to the public as part of the itinerary. The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment about the concert.

The governor is leading an 85-person delegation in a trade mission that has so far included stops in Rome, Viareggio and Florence, and will continue the rest of the week in Turin and Milan.

The trade mission comes on the heels of an election that was largely seen as a victory for Republicans in the state and for DeSantis, who defeated two ballot initiatives on abortion and marijuana that he staunchly opposed. While abroad, DeSantis has also learned that he will have the opportunity to appoint someone to the U.S. Senate as president-elect Trump is expected to name Marco Rubio as his secretary of state.

What has the Florida delegation done in Italy?

On Monday, the governor and members of the delegation met with shipbuilders and Italian chambers of commerce. The governor’s office also announced that Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sapienza University of Rome have entered into a partnership to share research on the aerospace industry.

On Tuesday, DeSantis met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, according to the governor’s office, which announced that Florida will have an expanded footprint in Italy.

”Florida is greatly expanding its Italian presence, and we are pleased to announce our newest international trade office will be in Italy,” DeSantis said. “Our brick-and-mortar presence here will continue the work of this trade mission in bringing more businesses, investment, and trade to Florida.”

Members of the delegation include Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Jason Weida, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly, New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran and Florida State University President Richard McCullough, according to the governor’s office.

A spokesperson for FloridaCommerce, which is helping coordinate the trade mission, did not directly address questions about the concert, but said on Tuesday that the trip is being privately funded through SelectFlorida, the state’s official international commerce organization.

“The mission will provide many cultural and business-to-business networking opportunities for both Floridian and Italian companies to expand relationships, commerce, and trade,” the spokeswoman, Rose Hebert said.

This story was originally published November 12, 2024 at 3:15 PM.