Italy plans to intensify cultural cooperation with Azerbaijan through educational initiatives, exhibitions, and events aimed at promoting Italian culture and tourism, the Italian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Luca Di Gianfrancesco, said in an interview with Agenzia Nova.
Report quotes him as saying culture is an integral part of Italian identity and plays an important role in Rome's foreign policy.
"Heritage is both a tangible and intangible asset that serves as a bridge between the past and the future. With this in mind, we will continue investing in new cultural initiatives in Azerbaijan and promoting tourism to Italy. The Italian Design Day, held this year for the first time at ADA University in Baku, showcased the excellence of Italian design, Made in Italy, and industrial know-how," the ambassador said.
The diplomat also noted that the Italian Embassy plans to organize events in Baku dedicated to the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
"We are working on a major project to celebrate this autumn the 2500th anniversary of the founding of Naples and its historic twin city relationship with Baku, established in 1972. This includes an exhibition of artifacts from the Italian archaeological mission led by Professor Nicola Laneri (University of Catania) at Tavatepe [a Late Bronze Age settlement in the Aghstafa District], an Italian Sports Day, and Italian Cuisine Week featuring a renowned chef. In addition, Italy will participate in the Baku Book Fair and other cultural and language promotion initiatives, including those in cooperation with the EU delegation and European partners in Azerbaijan," the head of the Italian diplomatic mission said.