Ex-Scots ice cream maker, 105, is guest of honour in Italy

She and her sister lived with friends of her parents in Scotland, with Gianna marrying one of their sons.

Mrs Pratesi worked in an ice cream shop for 20 years before returning to Italy, and on Monday night was the guest of honour at the Sanremo Music Festival as Italy marks 80 years of the republic.

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The 105-year-old was among the first women ever to vote in the country in the referendum on the matter in June 1946.

Ahead of her appearance she told La Repubblica: "I remember my father well, how against Mussolini he was.

"When I would go and play sport with the activities promoted by the regime he would take his bicycle and go away through the vegetable gardens in Val Graveglia so he could be as far away as possible."

Mrs Pratesi appeared on stage at the first night of the Sanremo Music Festival where she was interviewed by host Carlo Conti, who she presented with one of her paintings.

Asked how she had voted in the referendum she replied: "Everyone in my house was on the left, for the republic of course! Finally women could vote."

Mrs Pratesi also recounted coming third in a swimming competition at the Lido swimming pool on its inauguration on May 15, 1938 in the presence of Mussolini.

She said: "I was 18, I had never seen a coach or anyone like that but I came to swim.

"One (of the others) was a champion of Italy, and the other an all-Milan champion.

"When I was young I used to swim in the sea in Chiavari, which helped me a bit but I had never swam in a pool like that - but I came third. My son has the medal."

In a previous interview with Primocanale, she also showed off her Highland Dancing.