Italian Republic Day marked in Georgia with performances, expositions, food tasting

A celebration of Italian Republic Day was marked on Monday in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi with music and ballet performances, expositions and food tasting, the Italian Embassy to the country said.

Hosted at Tbilisi's Expo Georgia’s fairgrounds, the event featured performances of jazz music and fragments from the classical dance production Beatrice, created with the support of the Embassy to mark the 700th anniversary since the death of Dante Alighieri, Italian poet and scholar.

The celebration also involved food tasting, a showcase of Italian designer goods, enogastronomy products and Alfa Romeo cars.

Ambassador Massimiliano D'Antuono opened the event and highlighted “close relationship” between the two countries, with the event also attended by Alexander Khvtisiashvili, the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister, who also addressed the event.

It is extremely important for Italy to confirm our support for the territorial unity and sovereignty of Georgia, as well as its European aspirations”, D'Antuono said.

The diplomatic representation said the celebration also hosted representatives of political, economic and cultural circles of Georgia, civil society and diplomatic corps.

Tbilisi’s hilltop TV tower was on Monday illuminated in the national colours of Italy to mark the anniversary.