“On the evening of February 15, 1969, Gina Lollobrigida called me to propose going with her to Florence the next day for the Fiorentina-Cagliari match, the two teams competing for the championship that year.
I immediately declared myself delighted to join the expedition, especially because I’m an old Fiorentina fan!
The next morning, I went to meet her at her house, and immediately saw an imposing, though somewhat old, Rolls Royce in front of the entrance.
Then the great Gina appeared, dressed to take your breath away.
A fur coat made of at least three tigers, with a fur hat made from the poor beasts’ interwoven paws.
Jewelry, real or costume, everywhere, and her radiant smile that automatically put you in a good mood.
An icy rain began to fall heavily, and Gina sat at the wheel.
‘What are you doing?
You want to drive to Florence in this weather?
Please let a chauffeur do it.’ ‘What chauffeur?
I drive as I’ve always done, I don’t need anyone.’ I had to give in and sat beside her.
But I was terribly afraid.
It was indeed the most ill-fated decision I’ve ever made in my life.” Gina Lollobrigida lost control of the car on the highway near Orvieto, and Zeffirelli was seriously injured, to the point of having to cancel all work commitments for more than a year.
