By Chris Wright
In the months leading up to the 1966 World Cup in England, Pele married his first wife Rosemeri at home in Brazil before embarking on a fortnight’s honeymoon tour of Germany, Italy and Austria as the guest of German industrialist (and friend of Pele) Roland Endler; beginning at Endler’s Bavarian country house and ending up at the Pope’s gaff in Rome.
However, you don’t just have to sit there and take our word for it, for there is photographic proof to be perused.
Dig in….
Pele dabs the sweat from his brow during his wedding to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholby in a stifling hotel room crowed with family, friends and press in Santos, Brazil (February 21st 1966)
Pele and his new wife Rosemeri are welcomed by girls at a local carnival club in Frankfurt after flying in from Rio (February 22nd, 1966)
Pele and Rosemeri are photographed together after a visit to the famous catholic Rococo church at Wies in Garmisch, Germany (February 24th, 1966)
The newly-weds pose for a photo in their hotel suite in Salzburg, Austria (February 25th, 1966)
Pele and Rosemeri tour Salzburg in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by Josef Brandstaeter, president of the SV Austria Salzburg football club (February 25th, 1966)
Pele, Rosemeri and their female interpreter admire the baptismal font at Salzburg Cathedral while being shown around by Rev. Franz Simmerstaetter (February 28th, 1966)
Back in Bavaria, Pele and Rosemeri sink a couple of ales at Munich’s famous Hofbrauhaus beer hall (February 26th, 1966)
Pele and wife Rosemeri perform the traditional rite of tasting ‘Heuriger’ wine at a Vienna tavern as Heuriger singers serenade them in the background (March 5th, 1966)
Pele and Rosemeri admire the views from the Piazzale Michelangelo, overlooking Florence, during a scenic walk along the river Arno (March 2nd, 1966)
Pele and Rosemeri have a quick chinwag with Pope Paul VI during a special audience granted in the Pontiff’s private studio at the Vatican City’s Apostolic Palace, Rome (March 8th 1966)
(Photos: PA)