'Passione Italia' in Madrid until June 10

"Passione Italia" is the slogan with which Madrid is preparing to celebrate its Italian week, a group of events for the commercial, cultural and food promotion of the Italian nation, in programme from June 2 to 10, on occasion of the Italian Republic festivity. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Italian Industry for Spain (CCIS) which has in fact reported the news, in collaboration with the embassy of Spain and the main Italian institutions in Madrid, the programme foresees a series of events which will highlight the tourism and cultural offers of some regions such as Calabria and Sardegna. On June 2 and 3 in the gardens of the Italian School in Madrid, the provinces of Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria and Ragusa will set up tourism and food stands, will organize concerts, shows and have a lottery to win trips and prizes. On June 4 commerce meetings between Italian firms and local operators will be held in the consular chancellery of the Italian Embassy; whereas from June 5 to 10 at La Trastienda, nearby the market of San Miguel in Calle Mayor, a tasting of typical products of Sardinia and Cosenza will be offered. The top of Italian cuisine will be offered until June 10 at the La Manzana restaurant at the Hotel Hesperia, with the specialities by chef Alberto Annarumma from the Dei Cappuccini restaurant at the Grand Hotel convento in Amalfi. The backdrop to the event will be the Madrid book fair, which from today until June 10, at the Parco del Retiro, will have Italy as its guest of honour, with a rich programme of meetings, to which thirty people from the world of culture and ideas will take part, amongst whom Claudio Magris, awarded the Prince of the Asturias prize for literature in 2004, Erri de Luca, Corrado Calabrò, Dacia Maraini, Chiara Gamberale, Emilio Coco, Margaret Mazzantini or Roberto Calasso. (ANSAmed)