by Maria Teresa Veneziani
He disappeared on the night of December 6th at the age of 63. Santo Versace, the designer’s brother, was killed: In love, I want to remember Antonio because the relationship between him and my brother was great
It was the great love of Gianni Versace and his partner from 1982 to his tragic death in 1997. Antonio D’Amico died on the night of December 6th at the age of 63. His friend and manager Rody Mirri broke the news. Antonio was the first to rescue the murdered designer from his mansion Casa Casuarina overlooking the sea in Miami Beach, Florida. For months he battled a disease that proved fatal and which he faced with great strength and courage, those close to him say. Originally from Mesagne, in the Brindisi area, since 2002 he lived in Manerba del Garda, Brescia, where he founded a fashion house that bore his name, which closed after three years. In 2002 he took over the management of the La Carera restaurant together with some partners, but ended the business after a while in order to get back to work as a fashion designer. A year ago he had inaugurated the new line of tailored suits, Principe di Ragada.
His life was marked by the bond with the great stylist: they had met in 1982 when Antonio was just 22 years old and they had never left each other until Gianni’s death on that tragic morning of July 15th. They had met at the restaurant after the premiere of a ballet at La Scala in Milan, for which Versace had designed the costumes. The last thought was the most beautiful and also the most painful: the night before his death we were at the swimming pool when Gianni hugged me and said: whatever happens, remember that he will always love you.
Never take my agony for what happened – he vented -. He was good to me, very generous. I will live well thanks to him, I could stay in his houses but I will never set foot there again, it would be painful. After his disappearance, D’Amico had disagreements with the designer’s family, who had left an annuity and use of his homes in his favour. However, he preferred to receive a lump sum settlement to start his new life and begin a career as a fashion designer without copying Gianni. He was unique. Now for Santo Versace himself – just published in bookstores with the autobiography Fratelli – my act of love for Gianni (Feltrinelli) – to pay homage to his designer brother’s partner in warm memory. We had been talking a lot lately – he explained – so much that I knew about his illness. Writing the book was therapeutic for me, but most of all, love heals: If it wasn’t for my wife Francesca, I don’t know if I would have ever recovered from the trauma. Love can heal any wound. In the sign of love, I want to remember Antonio because his and Gianni’s was great. Antonio and Gianni were one of the first homosexual couples to officially come out and express their love publicly. Antonio D’Amico was played by Ricky Martin in the Fox-broadcast series dedicated to the fashion designer’s murder.
December 8, 2022 (change December 8, 2022 | 12:37)
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