The keys to the city of New York, Las Vegas, Bucharest or Prague?  A silver hawk on a haematite glove?  A fur blanket by Valentino? A silver bust of Mother Theresa?  Mayor Gianni Alemanno has donated almost two hundred official gifts – some purely symbolic, others elegant and precious – received since 2001 for a Christmas charity auction on Saturday 22 December in the Campidoglio.

The proceeds of the auction will be entirely devoted to the Peter Pan association which helps little cancer patients and their families, to the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity, and to the Diocese of Rome.

“In this moment of serious economic and social crisis,” said the mayor, “the City of Rome wants to provide some concrete help to those who are suffering the most, so I am inviting everyone to take part with a great gesture of generosity and solidarity.”

The items going under the hammer can be viewed in the Sala della Protomoteca in city hall on Friday from 10.00 to 18.00, and again on Saturday from 09.00 to 11.00, when the auction gets under way.  But you can also view them in advance on the website of the auction house Minerva.