Germans invade Italian resort

The all-day party was a good-humoured attempt to patch up relations

A group of German tourists have invaded the Adriatic beaches of Rimini in an effort to show the residents of the Italian town just how good natured and friendly they really are.

In a publicity stunt organised by German tabloid newspaper Bild, 160 German tourists jetted in for a day long party aimed at mending relations between the two nations.

The event comes less than two weeks after Italian Junior tourism minister Stefano Stefani provoked a diplomatic row by describing German tourists as arrogant, "hypernationalistic blondes".

Mr Stefani resigned after Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder cancelled his plans for an Italian summer break.

Relations between Italy and Germany took a turn for the worse earlier this month when Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi likened a heckling German European Parliament member to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

Welcome to Rimini, welcome to the city where Germans and Italians have embraced each other for the last 50 years Rimini's Mayor Alberto Ravaioli

Since the 1950s the resort town of Rimini has been a favourite summer holiday spot for German tourists - resulting in the area being dubbed the "Teutonic Grill".

Bild had chartered a plane and offered free flights to readers wanting to attend its "O sole mio" party - named after the famous Italian song.

The lucky winners who attended the party at Rimini's Turquoise Beach club were joined by a number of German showbiz celebrities.

Among those attending were the singer Gottlieb Wendehals, schlager music king Juergen Drews and pop star Jasmin Wanger.

Vital industry

As the temperature on the beach soared the diplomatic row seemed to be cooling down.

Rimini's Mayor Alberto Ravaioli turned up wearing a shirt the colours of the German national football team to welcome the crowds.

"Welcome to Rimini, welcome to the city where Germans and Italians have embraced each other for the last 50 years," he said, inviting Bild to make the party an annual event.

With much of Rimini dependent on tourist cash, Guido Pasi of the local tourist board was keen to build bridges.

"The party allows us to renew our friendship with the German people after what happened," he said.

For their part the Bild readers seemed happy that the party had been a success. "It's been hot, it's been wicked," 19-year-old Andrea Warneke told Bild.