The first festival dedicated to the friendship between Italy and the United States will be held in Vicenza, Italy, from September 12 to 14. The ITALIA-AMERICA Friendship Festival aims to celebrate and strengthen the bond between the two countries, highlighting their mutual influence on each other’s cultures.

The festival was introduced today by Vicenza’s Mayor Giacomo Possamai, along with the project’s creator and director Jacopo Bulgarini d’Elci, Yoon Nam, the U.S. Consul for Press and Culture in Milan, Ferruccio Zecchin, President of Vicentini nel Mondo, and Pier Giacomo Cirella, Secretary General of the Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Vicenza. Robert Allegrini, President of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), also sent a video message of support.

The festival will feature around thirty events, including a series of activities leading up to the event from late May. These will involve Italian and international guests and cover a variety of topics that reflect the long-standing relationship between Italy and the U.S. Topics include the history of Italian and Venetian emigration to America, culture, literature, art history, Palladian architecture and its influence on American tradition, cinema and television, music, food and wine, economic relations, brands, and diplomacy.

Promoted by the Municipality of Vicenza, NIAF, the U.S. Consulate in Milan, and Vicentini nel Mondo, the festival will also receive support from several institutions such as Neri Pozza, Fondazione Monte di Pietà, Palladio Museum/CISA, Mondoserie, and Confindustria Vicenza. The event’s organizer is the Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Vicenza.

The festival will feature lectures, meetings, screenings, concerts, and presentations in some of Vicenza’s most iconic venues, starting with the Palladian Basilica. This location honors the influence of Andrea Palladio’s architecture on the United States. The festival’s logo, which combines the Palladian "serliana" arch and the Capitol in Washington D.C., also reflects this strong connection.

Other venues include the Teatro Olimpico, Palazzo Chiericati, Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, the Biblioteca Internazionale La Vigna, Palazzo Trissino, and Palazzo Bonin Longare. A full schedule will be revealed in the coming weeks.

During the festival, a food village will also be set up in the historic center, offering tastings, gastronomic discoveries, and entertainment that further reflect the union between Italy and the U.S.

"This festival, which stems from a strong push by the Italian-American community in the U.S. and later by the Vicentini nel Mondo association, will allow us to explore the deep roots of Italy-U.S. relations from a privileged perspective," said Mayor Possamai. "It will be especially significant for Vicenza, given the strong cultural ties between our city and the U.S., such as the influence of Palladio on American architecture, as well as the important economic connections between our province, Italy’s leader in per capita exports, and the U.S."

Jacopo Bulgarini d'Elci, the festival's creator, emphasized the importance of showcasing the mutual influence of both countries on cinema, music, architecture, food, and migration history. "In a time of international tensions and changes, we are building a bridge of culture, dialogue, and shared dreams," he said.

Yoon Nam, U.S. Consul for Press and Culture, expressed pride in supporting the festival, noting the strong and enduring ties between Italy and the U.S. The festival's dates also coincide with a special anniversary for NIAF, marking the 70th anniversary of the American military presence in Vicenza and the 50th anniversary of the foundation itself.

Leading up to the festival, a series of preparatory events will be held, including dance performances, book presentations, and film screenings, beginning on May 16 with the dance show "Made in America" by Tulsa Ballet. These events will focus on themes such as the history of migration and the U.S.-Italy cultural connection.

All events at the Monte di Pietà are free until capacity is reached.