Italian shoes go to Sanremo

Like every year, Sanremo Festival week is here.

Like every year, over half the Italian population are taking their place in front of the TV to listen to the songs, comment on the fashions, slate the celebs and artists (up until a few years ago with friends and family on the sofa, now with friends and strangers on social media).

Like every year, after the opening evening, websites and magazines judge both the music and style.

And like every year, we often forget to look at the feet of singers, presenters and guests. Which really is a pity, because some of the most outstanding Italian shoes are right there, treading the now legendary stage of the Teatro Ariston.

Let’s see which.

First up, of course, is the festival’s host and art director, Carlo Conti, donning a total look by Salvatore Ferragamo for the third year running.

Young naturalised Italian singer-songwriter and composer Ermal Meta has chosen Fratelli Rossetti.

Alberto Guardiani features at Sanremo both inside and outside the theatre, on Chiara Galiazzo and rapper Raige (in the photo), and also at the feet of Anteprima Festival hosts Federico Russo and Tess Masazza.

The immortal Al Bano opted for the classic look. His shoes, proclaimed by the singer himself as “a must-have for the occasion”, were made by Camerlengo Laboratorio Artigianale in Monte San Giusto (MC).

Paola Turci sported two pairs of shoes on her famous feet, bringing footwear from Giuseppe Zanotti Design and Gianvito Rossi to the festival.

Double — or rather “double double” — choice for the couple Alice Paba and Nesli, too, who opted for JF London and Amato Daniele.

Michele Bravi, the very young winner of the seventh X Factor, arrived at his first ever Sanremo wearing only Emporio Armani.

While Bianca Atzei, just as young, wore luxury Italian-made Greymer shoes to her second festival.

And one of the newcomers, bearded Francesco Guasti, decided on a piece of Italian footwear history, Mantellassi and their brand M.i.T.