An emotional farewell to TV great Raffaella Carrà

ANSA

ROME – There were emotional scenes on July 9 as famous faces and ordinary folk said farewell to Raffaella Carrà at the funeral of the Italian TV icon and entertainment legend, who died at the age of 78.

A large crowd of people followed the funeral at Rome’s Maria in Ara Coeli basilica on a big screen on the square outside. Many people stood in intense heat to pay their respects as she lay in state at Rome city hall.

Carrà, who starred with Frank Sinatra in “Von Ryan’s Express” in 1965 and found cult TV success in Spain and other countries, becoming a gay icon, had been ill for some time.

Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said: “With the passing of Raffaella Carrà we lose the Lady of Italian television. A woman of great talent, passion and humanity who accompanies us our whole lives through. Addio Raffaella.”