Mayor Welcomes Italian Opera to Aliso

Aliso Viejo Mayor Donald Garcia welcomed Viterbo, Italy mayor Guilo Marini and his dignitaries Thursday morning during their stay at the Hotel.

Marini and Italian Opera performers are visiting Aliso Viejo for the California debut of The Tuscia Operafestival at .

The show, which began Wednesday and continues through Friday at the Soka University Performing Arts Center, was "fantastic," said Garcia.

Council members Phillip Tsunoda, Carmen Cave and City Manager Mark Pulone were also in attendance at the breakfast gala held at the hotel.

"It's a privilege to have honorable Marini and a host of dignitaries visiting our great city," Garcia said.  "It was my second opera and I had more fun at this one than I did the last one and I would go again."

Both mayors exchanged gifts with each other along with praises for each other's cultures and cities.

"I'm sure that through this important experience of tradition and culture from the city of Viterbo will be welcomed in the states," Marini said through a translator, before extending an invitation for Garcia to visit his hometown.