Kobe’s Childhood Home in Italy Honors Him with Plaza

As the entire world mourns the year anniversary of Kobe’s passing, his hometown in Italy is pulling out all the stops. The Italian city of Reggio Emilia will unveil the “Largo Kobe and Gianna Bryant”, a plaza in their honor. Kobe spent several years of his youth living there.

Via ESPN: 

Reggio Emilia, located about an hour’s drive east from Bologna in northern Italy, will unveil the “Largo Kobe and Gianna Bryant,” a plaza dedicated to the man who spent several years of his youth living in the small city while his father, Joe Bryant, played for the Cantine Riunite, Reggio’s professional basketball team.

“The city of Reggio Emilia and its citizens loved, first Joe, and then Kobe Bryant, the child who, once he returned to America, always remembered Reggio with love,” Emanuele Maccaferri, the vice president of the Sport Foundation of Reggio Emilia, told ESPN. “On this sad day we want to remember that happy child who left wonderful memories in so many people of Reggio Emilia.”

The space, located in the historic center of town, will be commemorated with a plaque and a newly planted Ginkgo biloba tree in the Bryants’ honor and is a pedestrian thoroughfare commonly used by fans coming and going to the city’s basketball arena.


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The Los Angeles Lakers legend welcomed a bit of Italy back into his life. Now Bryant’s old Italian stomping grounds will forever be remembered as Kobe’s Plaza.

RIP KOBE.


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