Ninth Italian Festival in Sofia
On June 2, Italian ambassador to Bulgaria Stefano Benazzo and Sofia mayor Yordanka Fandukova launched the ninth annual Italian Festival in Sofia. It will continue throughout June in various locations in the capital city and traditionally coincides with Italy’s Republic Day, June 2.
The Italian Festival showcases Italian quality in, among other things, consumer goods, food and wines, fashion, art and culture, tourism and crafts.
Piazza Italia is a set of initiatives promoting Italian fashion, tourism and wines and takes place between June 2 and 10 in the garden next to the Crystal restaurant. It will include song and dance performances, poetry readings and book presentations.
The mosaic, bathroom and ceramic design companies Bisazza, Catalano and Gessi exhibit their new prototypes in Casa Sicilia as a part of Sofia Design Week (June 1-8).
Metro Cash & Carry stores throughout Bulgaria are hosting a Month of Italian cuisine, which includes cooking sessions and presentations of Italian wines. (till June 13).
There will also be paintings and photography exhibitions, book presentations and concerts in various locations in Sofia.
Worth noting is the exhibition of jewellery products by 40 leading Italian companies in the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan who will be seeking business partners from Bulgaria, CEE and the Middle East. It will take place on June 12 and 13.
Also of interest is the Italian food and wine tasting on June 18, also at the Sheraton. Both events are organised by the ICE – the Italian agency for promotion of Italian companies abroad, and are invitation-only.
“The festival events are not only elite culture, but are aimed at a wide target – families and everyone who wants to spend a few pleasant hours,” Benazzo said.
The Italian Festival is organised by the Italian embassy in co-operation with ICE, Sofia municipality, the Italian cultural institute in Sofia, ConfindustriaBulgaria, Casa Sicilia and the Italia in Bulgaria chamber of commerce.
More details about the Italian Festival can be found at the website (Italian and Bulgarian only) http://italianfestival.bg/2012/PiazzaBG.htm
