Ambassador Vattani also among the NaxosLegge award-winners

(ANSA) - ROMA, 21 SET - The awarding of the Culture Promoter Prizes opened the 14th edition of the NaxosLegge Festival, which runs until 30 September and will be held in Giardini Naxos, Messina, Letojanni and, for the Naxos Off section, also in Rome and Ragusa Ibla. The event, presented by artistic director Fulvia Toscano and hosted on the terrace of the Lido di Naxos, kicked off with the award in memory of maestro Gianni Pennisi on the centenary of his birth.
    A total of ten prizes dedicated to the memory of Franz Riccobono were awarded yesterday evening: Mario Vattani, Adriana Poli Bortone, Francesco Costa, Daniela Ursino, Gianni Pennisi, Carlotta Previti, Fulvio Delle Donne, Daniele Malfitana, Giuseppe Girgenti and the representatives of Taurianova Italian Book Capital 2024 Ambassador Mario Vattani, Italy's Commissioner for EXPO Osaka 2025 who, also in the role of writer, recounted his love for the Far East, said: 'We know how Italy and Japan are linked by a long history of cultural exchanges, but not all of them are known to the general public, and, for this reason, in recent years I have wanted to write about them and recount them, also because this wealth of relationships qualifies Italy as a nation that has been able to look at Asia with farsightedness since its first steps as a modern state, always with curiosity, admiration and respect. It is no coincidence that in the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, space will also be given to the history of our relations, now elevated to strategic partnership by President Meloni and Prime Minister Kishida in January '23. Receiving this prestigious recognition in Sicily, which has always been a crossroads of cultures, fills me with pride and will be a great stimulus for my activity'.