Italy's president Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday began a two-day official visit to Spain, where he was greeted upon his arrival in Madrid by King Felip VI and Queen Letizia, with military honours.
Mattarella was later received by Madrid's mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida Navasques, who awarded him the Golden Key of the City.
"The Golden Key which I have been given symbolises the renewal of the traditional fraternity and friendship that links Italy and Madrid - an aspirational European city," said Mattarella in his acceptance speech.
"It represents the future of relations between our two peoples," Mattarella said.