Cyprus

This year’s program –as the Ambassador
of Italy in Cyprus H.E. Alfredo Bastianelli
highlighted in his note on the brochure
published for the events– offered again
a large range of activities to enjoy, intending
to make known the common thread that has
run through history to nowadays; that of the
similarities and ties between Italy and Cyprus.
The Italian Month –organised in collaboration
with the Ministry of Education and Culture,
Cultural Services, and the Cyprus Tourism
Organisation– launched its activities on May
3rd. The Cyprus-Italian Business Association,
the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry
and the Embassy of Italy hosted a business
lunch with a lecture, in English, given by Mr.
Andrea Falessi, on the issue “Growing International
and Green.”
On the same day, and the following days as
well, the Italian Embassy in cooperation with
the company Lungarotti, La Maison du Vin,
the Hilton Park Nicosia and Four Seasons
Hotel organised the Italian Gastronomic Days
– “The Flavour of Umbria.” The famous chef
Enrico Garofalo prepared magnificent Italian
Haute Cuisine for the attendants of these
events. On May 7th the Elysium Hotel in collaboration
with La Maison du Vin hosted an
exclusive Oeno-gastronomic dinner.
From May 7th to 16th, in cooperation with
the Cyprus State Fairs Authority, there was
an Embassy stand within the Italian Pavillion
at the 35th Cyprus International Fair. Information
about Italy on trade, tourism, Italian
language and other promotional material were
available. On May 11th, a concert with classical
music by “Trio Mediterraneo” was held.
On 18th of May, on the occasion of International
Museum Day, the Byzantine Museum
of the “Archbishop Makarios III” Foundation,
the Italian Embassy, the Institute for
Conservation and Restoration in Rome and
the Cyprus Tourism Organisation organised a
conference entitled “Cyprus and Italy: Restoration
of Byzantine Paintings” at the Confer-
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ence Hall of the “Archbishop Makarios III”
Foundation. Scholars and restorers from the
ISCR of Rome presented the results of the
restoration of the big icon of Saint Nicholas
of the Roof of the Byzantine Museum and the
future restoration of the Cypriot icon of the
Virgin of the Carmelites. A round table with
Cypriot restorers followed in order to examine
similarities and differences on restoration
methods between Cyprus and Italy.
Events were also held at the Italian Ambassador’s
Residence. On May 19th, a dinner accompanied
with Italian songs in aid of the Cyprus
Anti-Cancer Society was organised and
two days later, the Italian Embassy along with
Kitesurfing Association of Cyprus hosted a
kitesurfing evening, introducing kitesurfing
as one of the most fast growing sports in the
world and its potential to become a new way
of promoting tourism in Cyprus.
From May 27th to 29th an Italian Film Festival,
entitled “A Tribute to Marcello Mastroianni”
was held at Technochoros Ethal in Limassol.
For 3 days there were screenings of Italian films
with Marcello Mastroianni as a leading actor.
This was an attempt on behalf of the Italian Embassy
and Ethal to introduce to the Cypriot audience
the highlights of the Italian cinema.