Indeed, Genoa witnessed the hanging of a man with a golden rope, just as stated by the songwriter Fabrizio De André in one of his songs. Mr. Mario Calabrese was sentenced of theft of a papal jewel: a sword of honor with the hilt bearing the pontifical coat of arms decorated with precious gems. Pope Paul III had given this gift to the admiral Andrea Doria, and when it was stolen, a 200-ecu reward was at stake for whoever may have found it. Mr. Calabrese was found guilty and hung in Piazza San Matteo, with a golden rope indeed.
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