The private and sentimental life of the showman, from the partner mentioned by Battisti to the ups and downs of the relationship with the host of Domenica In
From music to television to radio and cinema, Renzo Arbore is one of the most prolific figures in the Italian entertainment world. A confirmed bachelor, his private life has been as rich as it is gossiped about; from his relationship with Vanna Brosio and Gabriella Ferri to the (rekindled) love with Mariangela Melato, all the way to his relationship with Mara Venier, Arbore has always been a topic of conversation. Let’s discover his entire romantic history.
Renzo Arbore and the love with Vanna Brosio
Born in Foggia in 1937, at the beginning of his career as the “first Italian disc jockey” (a title he shares with his lifelong friend Gianni Boncompagni) at the helm of Bandiera Gialla, Alto Gradimento, and many other variety shows, during the 1960s Renzo Arbore had a relationship with Vanna Brosio. A singer and presenter from Piedmont, in her career Vanna collaborated with Mogol, Paolo Conte, and other big names in Italian music, but she also worked alongside Mike Bongiorno on La fiera dei sogni. As revealed by Arbore himself, Lucio Battisti speaks of an episode from his relationship with the singer in the song “Innocenti evasioni.” Vanna Brosio passed away in her “home” Turin in 2010 after a long illness.
The (double) relationship with Mariangela Melato
Subsequently, Renzo Arbore became romantically involved with Gabriella Ferri (a Roman singer known for her performances of famous songs like “Sinnò me moro” and “Barcarolo romano”), but true love would come in the 1970s when the showman met Mariangela Melato. One of the most recognized and loved actresses of the period, Mariangela had a long relationship with Arbore, but in the 1980s she decided to return to America for work reasons. The two parted ways after discovering they had changed too much over time, but the affection never completely faded, rather. After a long relationship with Mara Venier, Renzo Arbore rekindled his bond with the actress in 2007 and remained by her side until the day of her death on January 11, 2013. An event that deeply affected the musician, who admitted: “Her loss was the greatest pain of my life.”
Renzo Arbore and Mara Venier: the (alleged) betrayals and the abortion
Renzo Arbore had a love affair with Mara Venier that lasted 12 years, ending in 1997. The couple experienced many ups and downs, from the alleged betrayals by Renzo (“Who were you cheating on me with?” Mara asked him half-seriously during a television interview) to the dramatic episode of the abortion. As confessed by the presenter, the two had to face the loss of the child when Mara was five and a half months pregnant: “A late-term interrupted pregnancy… a great pain for both of us,” “Aunt Mara” recounted to Maurizio Costanzo. Many years after their breakup, however, Renzo Arbore and Mara Venier have remained on excellent terms, as shown by the two appearances of the showman on Domenica In in 2022 (on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of “Aunt Mara’s” show) and today, September 15, 2024, when Arbore will be in the Rai 1 lounge to relive with his ex-partner the main milestones of their love.