Italian Cultural Week lights up Albania with music, art, and culture

Albania is hosting Italian Cultural Week from June 1 to 8, bringing a nationwide celebration of Italy’s artistic heritage through a rich program of music, cinema, fashion, architecture, and visual arts. With all events open to the public free of charge, the initiative aims to celebrate the deep cultural ties between Italy and Albania.

The week opened in Tirana’s Catholic Cathedral with a classical music concert titled “Mediterraneo in Musica”, performed by the Magna Grecia Youth Orchestra from the Puglia region of Italy. The concert featured performances by soprano Sara Intagliata and baritone Giampiero Delle Grazie, with a repertoire that included works by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Morricone, and Nino Rota. Italian Ambassador Marco Alberti attended the event, noting in his address that the week is dedicated to the future and underscores the strong historical friendship between the two nations.

On June 2, the same orchestra will perform again in the ancient amphitheatre of Durrës, offering a classical music experience in one of Albania’s most historic venues.

Also on June 2, Tirana will host the Fashion Chat event at COIN, featuring young Italian designers discussing how contemporary fashion in Italy continues to evolve through innovation and reinterpretation of traditional styles. The event aims to spotlight new creative voices in Italy’s globally influential fashion industry.

That evening, the 9th Albania Guitar Festival will feature a performance by Lucio Matarazzo and Giovanni Masi, a teacher-student duo formed at the Conservatory of Avellino. Their collaboration is known for its technical mastery and interpretive harmony in classical guitar.

Vlora will also be animated by a performance from the Italian vocal group Neri per Caso. The group, known for its a cappella style, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its 1995 Sanremo Festival victory.

On June 4, a series of architectural talks titled “Contemporary Italian Architecture” will begin at the Pyramid in Tirana, led by Professor Gabriele Lelli. The talks will explore modern architectural approaches and urban identity in Italy.

Also on June 4, the jazz and soul trio Aperitivo Italiano will perform at the Margarita Tutulani Cultural Center in Berat, presenting a program of classic Italian pop songs arranged in new musical styles.

From June 4 to 12, the “Girls” Gallery in Tirana will host Abito Mari, an exhibition by Fabrizio Bellomo that reflects on contemporary Mediterranean landscapes. The show emphasizes cultural intersections between southern Italy—particularly Puglia and Calabria—and Albania.

A major highlight of the visual arts program begins June 5 and runs until July 5 at the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD). I soldi di tutte le terre, a retrospective exhibition by Enzo Cucchi, showcases the work of one of Italy’s foremost Transavanguardia artists. The exhibit draws parallels between Italy in the 1980s and present-day Albania.

On June 5, Gjirokastër will host the premiere of Onora tuo padre, a joint Italian-Albanian theatre production dealing with themes of family, tradition, and intergenerational relationships. The production features artists from both countries and reflects shared cultural values.

Continuing in Gjirokastër on June 6, the film Mia, directed by Riccardo Bona, will tell the story of Mia Martini, a renowned Italian singer whose life was marked by immense talent as well as social stigma. The film offers an intimate portrait of her artistic legacy and personal challenges.

Also on June 6 in Tirana, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet will host a symphonic concert titled I suoni di un viaggio. Pianist Giovanni Bertolazzi will perform under the baton of conductor Andrea Solinas, with a repertoire including compositions by Puccini, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, and Fregas.

That same evening in Vlora, Lucio Pellegrini’s biographical film Carosello Carosone will be screened, recounting the life of Renato Carosone, one of Italy’s most iconic post-war musicians, known for blending jazz, swing, and Neapolitan song.

From June 6 to 8, ARTurbina in Tirana will stage a contemporary interpretation of Goethe’s Faust, directed by Davide Iodice. The production reimagines the character of Faust as a modern man tempted by the promise of eternal relevance.

On June 7, the Butrint Amphitheatre in Saranda will host a concert by Italian-Albanian singer-songwriter Ermal Meta, marking the opening of his Live 2025 tour. Meta will be accompanied by pianist Davide Antonio Pio and a string trio, combining music with narrative storytelling.

The week concludes on June 8 with Colors of Italy, a family-friendly celebration in Tirana’s New Bazaar, featuring food, music, games, and Italian cultural traditions.

Also on June 8, Vlora will host the screening of Gabriele Salvatores’ film Tutto il mio folle amore, which follows a father and his neurodivergent son on a transformative road trip, highlighting themes of parenting and societal expectations.