Italy in Georgia: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic.
On June 2, the Embassy of Italy in Georgia hosted a reception at the Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in Tbilisi to celebrate Italy’s National Day.
The event brought together representatives of Georgian institutions and the diplomatic corps, members of the Italian community living in Georgia, business leaders, and representatives from civil society, cultural organizations, and academic circles. The reception was opened by Italy’s Ambassador to Georgia, Massimiliano D’Antuono, who highlighted the close ties between the two countries.
“Today, Italy celebrates the 80th anniversary of the birth of the Republic — a Republic founded on the core principles enshrined in our Constitution: freedom, democracy, peace, work, and equality,” Ambassador D’Antuono said. “These same fundamental values inspire the relationship between Italy and Georgia, a partnership distinguished by vibrant cultural, diplomatic, and economic exchanges.”
Italy’s National Day serves as an occasion to reaffirm the importance of these values while celebrating the progress achieved in relations between Italy and Georgia. It also provides an opportunity to showcase the creativity, innovation, and distinctive lifestyle for which Italy is renowned around the world.
Guests attending the celebration were treated to a series of cultural and culinary highlights.
The Italian and Georgian national anthems were performed by acclaimed Georgian mezzo-soprano Nino Surguladze, a recipient of the Order of the Star of Italy.
The evening also featured the exhibition “Svaneti: A Relativity Game of Time and Space,” dedicated to Vittorio Sella, the Italian mountaineer and photographer born in the city of Biella, whose photographs created an invaluable visual record of Georgia’s mountainous regions in the late nineteenth century. The exhibition was created by Georgian mountaineer and photographer Nika Lebanidze, who retraced Sella’s route more than 130 years later and produced a photographic comparison illustrating how time has transformed the mountains and landscapes. The exhibition will remain open to visitors through July 20, 2026.
Another centerpiece of the celebration was a display of iconic Italian automobiles, including models from Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo — brands that have become symbols of Italian engineering and design excellence.
Guests also enjoyed a selection of Italy’s celebrated food and wine traditions, including Prosecco, Aperol, premium Italian wines, and a variety of delicacies prepared by Italian chef Angelo Manigrasso, featuring flavors from the southern region of Puglia. Following successful initiatives in previous years dedicated to promoting the regions of Campania and Emilia-Romagna, the Italian Embassy will devote several events this year to showcasing the culture and gastronomy of Puglia.
As the celebrations continued into the evening, the Tbilisi TV Tower was illuminated in the green, white, and red colors of the Italian flag, offering a striking tribute to Italy’s National Day and the enduring