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Town Of De Blasio's Italian Roots Cheers Mayoral Win

ROME (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The southern Italian town of Bill de Blasio's maternal grandfather is cheering his landslide victory in New York City's mayoral election and is inviting him to receive honorary citizenship in a ceremony.

Carmine Valentino, mayor of Sant'Agata de' Goti, says he hopes he'll see de Blasio soon in the Apennine mountain town of some 11,000. The New York City mayor-elect traces his grandfather's roots to the town, which is about 22 miles northeast of Naples.

WATCH: Bill De Blasio Elected Mayor Of NYC

Townspeople early Wednesday followed the election coverage from New York on a big TV screen and popped open a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate.

De Blasio Support In Italy
A man holds a poster of Bill de Blasio, as others look at, on a giant screen at the electoral support committee office of Bill de Blasio, the speech of the new mayor of New York, in Sant'Agata de Goti, southern Italy, late on November 5, 2013. (Photo MARIO LAPORTA/AFP/Getty Images)

American flags studded the town and de Blasio campaign banners hung from balconies and were plastered on storefronts.

Back in New York on Wednesday, de Blasio said he "feels great," adding "all this, it's incredible."

De Blasio will take office on Jan. 1.

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