Gianni Agnelli with his mother Virgina in the second half of the 1920's.
Gianni (right) at the age of eight with his cousin Giovanni Nasi.
Sestrière, 1931. Edoardo with his son Gianni and Senator Agnelli with Giovanni Nasi
I studied at D’Azeglio High School,
which was attended by laical youth of Turin[…]. And there I became involved in
a more modern environment, sharing the
desire for new experiences and for the growth
of an entrepreneurial family
like mine.
I was distraught. When you are so young you cry, of course. At the age of 14, you know that people die, but you never think that it will happen.
The massive crowd during the funeral of Edoardo Agnelli, Gianni's father, in 1935.
Torino, at the house in Corso Matteotti, at the end of the 30's.
Summer 1939. Gianni Agnelli e Giovanni Nasi for the first time in the United States.
I got my diploma, maybe in 1938 or 1939, for achieving it I was sent to the United States for two months […]. It was a very educational trip that allowed me to understand better what the New World was like.
When your country is at war and you are a young man, you are among those who make war and not among those who just stand and watch. When we were twenty, between 1940 and 1950, we lived in a period that I don’t wish on anyone. We saw a chaotic world, Europe in disarray...
Gianni (centre) in Russia in 1940.
Practice drill at the Calvary School in Pinerolo.
At the Calvary school of cadets in Pinerolo in 1940.
The ‘50s were the post war years, years of joy for life [..] They were magnificent years. The age between 25 and 35 are always fantastic; it is a marvelous period.
In Rapallo at the end of the 40's.
In the Juventus locker room together with (from right) Vivolo, Muccinelli, Boniperti, Mari e Piccinini
Juventus, in those years, was a school of bad habits for me: we joked with the football players, we made strange contracts and we laughed with the football coach.
The Family, as for all Italian people, means a lot. It’s the core from which everything else begins.
Gianni and Marella on their wedding day, celebrated in Strasburg in 1953.
On the plane with his son Edoardo in 1958.
For 20 years, Mr. Valletta was very close to me as Vice chairman . Then I took full responsibility.
Transfer of Fiat's chairmanship between Vittorio Valletta and Gianni Agnelli in 1966.
1975, Agnelli together with Luciano, sign the agreement on the Italian salary increase mechanism matching the inflation rate.
Municipal Board in Villar Perosa in the 70's.
In my life I had two public elective roles, one as President of Confindustria during a critical period and another as Mayor of Villar Perosa, for 35 years: it was a very useful experience to understand people’s problems, the cost of city lighting, town life, the importance of the parish priest, and teacher’s jobs.
My life coincides with three quarters of Fiat life. And my relationship with Fiat is half based on memories and the other half on experiences...
July 1983. Shareholders Meeting at Centro Storico Fiat.
Gianni Agnelli at Villa Frescot in the 80's.
Don’t call me Senator. Every time I hear this word I think about my grandfather, who was for me and my family everything. He is the Senator. I am known as Avvocato Agnelli, and it should be like this.
I am not attracted to politics, it is too late, but I took part in all the election votes for President because it’s important to take the Parliament seriously.
Gianni Agnelli is nominated Senator for life on 1st June, 1991.
September 2002. Gianni Agnelli e Carlo Azeglio Ciampi on the inauguration day of the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli
The passion for art grows with becoming mature. As a child my father used to take me to visit museums because he believed that beautiful things educate people, and that taste should be perfected from childhood, and he was right.
I don’t like endings; moreover, I don’t like the past except for the past defining our identity. I love the future and I like young people. My life has always been a bet on the future.
Gianni Agnelli dies on the 24 January, at Villa Frescot, his home in Turin. The city pays tribute to him.
