ROME -- A 99-year-old man is divorcing his wife of 77 years after discovering love letters written more than 60 years ago to her secret lover.
The romantic letters were discovered when the couple, identified only as Antonio and Rosa, were clearing out of their apartment in Rome.
When confronted with the letters, Rosa admitted to the affair apparently with hopes of saving the marriage of nearly eight decades.
However, Antonio filed for divorce from his 96-year-old wife and mother of his five children.
The couple was married in 1934, when Antonio was a young Carabinieri officer posted to Naples.
But about 10 years later Rosa had an affair with her unidentified lover.
Lawyer Anna Orecchioni told the Telegraph: "The husband decided to file for divorce after finding the love letters.
He felt betrayed and unable to carry on with the marriage which has lasted 77 years."
The couple has a dozen grandchildren and one great-grandchild
The romantic letters were discovered when the couple, identified only as Antonio and Rosa, were clearing out of their apartment in Rome.
When confronted with the letters, Rosa admitted to the affair apparently with hopes of saving the marriage of nearly eight decades.
However, Antonio filed for divorce from his 96-year-old wife and mother of his five children.
The couple was married in 1934, when Antonio was a young Carabinieri officer posted to Naples.
But about 10 years later Rosa had an affair with her unidentified lover.
Lawyer Anna Orecchioni told the Telegraph: "The husband decided to file for divorce after finding the love letters.
He felt betrayed and unable to carry on with the marriage which has lasted 77 years."
The couple has a dozen grandchildren and one great-grandchild
