The Italian Embassy in Algiers celebrated Republic Day by inviting the members of the Italian community and numerous representatives of Algerian institutions and civil society to the Ambassador’s Residence at Villa Hesperia. In his welcome remarks and at the presence of the Algerian Ministers of Commerce and Education, Ambassador Pasquale Ferrara recalled the historical moment that Algeria is going through and expressed his deep admiration for the maturity shown by civil society through the peacefulness of their protests.
The decision to maintain the celebration of Republic Day on 2 June, during Ramadan, was particularly appreciated by the Algerian guests, who enthusiastically came in large numbers to attend the celebration that was scheduled after the “break of the fast” (Iftar).
The event featured a high-level music repertory mixing sounds from both shores of the Mediterranean: from the Algerian Youth Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Salim Dada, to the Neapolitan opera arias by tenor Christian Collia, and the contemporary music by an Algerian pop-rock group.
For the occasion, the Residence also displayed the exhibition “Leonardo. The Gentle Genius”, developed and organised by Stefano Baldi and Luigina Peddi to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci. The guests were guided through the exhibition by young Algerians wearing Renaissance costumes designed by Oscar winner Gabriella Pescucci.
This year, the celebrations of Republic Day were particularly rich for the Italian community in Algeria thanks to the stopover in Algiers of the Frigate Carlo Bergamini which, on 2 June, was opened to all Italians for a guided tour. The stopover of the Italian frigate offered the opportunity to reaffirm the all-around strategic partnership between Italy and Algeria, in a spirit of mutual friendship and trust.
