The Tamesis
Rome bid farewell to Valentino Garavani on Friday morning as hundreds of mourners gathered at the Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Angeli and Martyrs for his funeral. This magnificent Renaissance church is built within the ancient Baths of Diocletian and was transformed by Michelangelo in the 16th century. The cathedral has long been associated with major civic and religious ceremonies, and it provides a setting that reflects Valentino’s position in Italy, not only as a fashion designer but as a cultural figure whose name became synonymous with elegance and beauty.
Garavani died at his home in Rome on January 19 at the age of 93. In the days following his death, the city of Rome marked his passing with a two-day public memorial at PM23. PM23 is the headquarters of the foundation founded by Garavani with his business partner and lifelong companion Giancarlo Giammetti. The location is just minutes from the historic Spanish Steps and Via Condotti, where the designer first established his fashion house in 1959.
If there’s one idea that shapes both clothes and men, it’s beauty. From the symbolic power of Valentino red to the precision of his couture atelier, his creations exhibit a timeless elegance. “I love beauty—it’s not my fault,” he once said. For Valentino, this pursuit is not trend-driven but a lifelong commitment that has shaped his designs and the glamorous lifestyle he has led since his retirement in 2008.
Despite forecast rain, Friday morning was marked by clear blue skies, with sunlight filtering through the cathedral’s majestic stone interior, casting warm tones and surrounding gilded arches and frescoes. At 11 a.m. Central European Time, the ceremony kicked off with music by Mozart. Lacrima from RequiemThe coffin was carried up the center aisle, flanked by friends and family, led by Giammetti and Valentino’s long-time collaborator Bruce Hoeksema, who had been an executive at the brand for many years. The moment set a solemn and reverent tone that was equally grand and intimate.
The ceremony takes place between prayers and music, including traditional Hail Marythe final ceremony was held, with mourners approaching the coffin covered in white lace to pay their last respects. “I’m not going to say goodbye today. I’m going to say thank you,” Hoeksema told the congregation.
Joining Garavani’s extended family and long-time collaborators were Valentino creative director Alessandro Michele, former Valentino creative directors Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri; fashion media figures including Anna Wintour, Hamish Bowles and Suzy Menkes; designers including Donatella Versace, Brunello Cucinelli and Tom Ford; industry executives Antoine Arnault and François-Henri Pinault; and actress and Valentino muse Anne Hathaway.
