The Viva Italia in Canberra festival is just starting off this year and is dedicated to celebrating and promoting Italian culture, community and heritage in Canberra and surrounding areas. It is run by the Viva Italia in Canberra committee. One of the festival aims is to showcase all things Italian, through Italian themed events. That is why we have decided to come under the banner of the festival for this dinner.

The Accademia Italiana della Cucina was founded as an institute of the Republic of Italy by Orio Vergani back in 1953. The purpose was to protect the culture and traditions of Italian cuisine and to recognize it as an Italian treasure. Delegations were formed to promote these objectives, and these have grown to around 300 in Italy and the world with the head office of the Accademia Italiana della Cucina in Milan.

The Canberra delegation was formed in 2006 and is undertaking the task of assessing The Italian Place restaurant as part of the Canberra Italian Festival to help celebrate and promote Italian culture of which food is an important part.

HERE IS THE MENU for the evening prepared in collaboration with the chef of “The Italian Place", Francesco Petrillo. There is a choice for “main” (please choose fish or chicken) and dessert (Tiramisu or Panna Cotta). Please send your selection through with your booking email.

Complimentary Prosecco on arrival.

BOOKINGS MUST BE MADE BY 19TH MARCH 2025 $95 pp

 TO BOOK PLEASE CONTACT

 Luciano Lombardo

E: luciano@bigpond.net.au

Annual Dinner Dance celebrating its 35th Anniversary.

The Viva Italia Dance Band and Julie Accordion will take the audience on a musical journey through Italy.

Celebrate Italian music and dance the night away to your favourite songs.Entertainment provided by Viva Italia Trio (Brescia Entertainment)

$85 incl. 3 course dinner, 2 bottles of wine per table + tea and coffee

BOOKINGS MUST BE MADE BY 17TH MARCH 2025

TO BOOK PLEASE CONTACT

Teresa Colosimo (m) 0410 507 327

A Climbing Life, a memoir by Armando Corvini, is a remarkable story starting in Trieste in Italy to the present day in Canberra.

Along the way, Armando suffered severe frostbite in the Himalayas in a mountaineering accident and faced a steep and painful recovery. Yet today, at the age of 85, he continues to teach others how to climb, abseil and go caving. A Climbing Life is a story about perseverance and an endless love for the mountains.

A question-and-answer session will also be conducted with Armando.

Armando’s memoir will be on sale at the event.

No bookings required, refreshments provided.

Come and celebrate the launch of Things of Desire’s winter collection of beautiful Italian designed and made clothes and handbags.

Enjoy a Prosecco or Aperol spritz and a lovely evening in the garden of TOD’s new location in Manuka.

For bookings contact Alan and Angela

tod@netspeed.com.au

Italian vocalist Rossella Fanelli began her collaboration with the Italian Accordionist Paolo Campanari Brancondi founding their duo 'According to Us' in 2022.

Their journey started with great success by playing for the Italian Embassy in Canberra during the VII Week of the Italian Cuisine in the World, in 2022.

Over 2023 and 2024 they performed for Italian events, including the Hobart Italian Festa in Tasmania, Italian themed parties, and Italian restaurants all over Sydney.

They continue their journey performing the traditional Italian songs with a jazz twist.

Doors open 6.30pm.

Tour of the National Archives including how to search for information and the history of immigration in Canberra. Also includes afternoon tea.

Let’s channel our inner Audrey and Gregory Peck and enjoy this classic movie at Palace Cinemas. If you’d like to, dress up for the occasion and be whisked to Romantic Rome in this feel-good movie.

 Enjoy a drink on arrival.

Roman Holiday is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler. It stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess out to see Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter. Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance; the film also won the Academy Award for Best Story and the Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

Join us at Palace Electric Cinemas for what is considered one of the most romantic films in cinema history.

The film was shot on location around Rome during the "Hollywood on the Tiber" era. The film opened the 14th Venice International Film Festival within the official program.

In 1999, Roman Holiday was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Visit the incredible Canberra Glassworks, watch as professional glass artists create amazing works of art. Learn about the art of glassblowing, visit the current exhibition and shop and uncover the history of the Canberra Glassworks.

Get hands on with a glass tile-making workshop.

The charismatic tenor from Napoli, Raffaele Pierno, joins Carl Rafferty and his dazzling singers from "Opera by Candlelight" to give you the hits of Italian opera. This concert is the highlight of Canberra's newly announced Italian Festival. You'll swoon to Nessun Dorma, you'll sing-a-long to Funiculi-Funicula, and you'll weep at the beauty and pathos of the love duet from La Boheme.

This is opera at its best with all the great tunes, fabulous singing, huge emotions, and NONE of the boring bits.

The ANU Drill Hall Gallery is a wonderful acoustic and the close seating gives you all of the expression and intimacy of these wonderful performers. Bubbles and nibbles are included. Seating is limited to 70 people.

Doors open 6.30pm. $79

In Italy Unveiled - A Journey in Poetry, celebrated Australian poet Luke Whitington (pictured below) brings us his latest collection of poems - a tribute to Italy and twenty years of life he spent there.

Through his indelible longing, expressed in his extraordinary poetry, he takes us on a unique and intimate journey through Italy. His poetry is a bridge between cultures.

Hosted by Manning Clark House, Italy Unveiled will be launched in conversation with distinguished Australian poet, environmentalist, and Canberra treasure Mark O'Connor OAM, together with poetry readings in original English by Luke Whitington and in Italian by translator and writer Michael Curtotti.

Members: $15.00

General Admission: $20.00

Concession: (Government support and full-time students) $15.00

In the eighteenth century, the Grand Tour was a rite of passage for the wealthy, a chance to explore the cultural and artistic treasures of Italy. Travelers marvelled at the masterpieces of art, architecture, and, of course, enjoyed the regional flavours of its food.

This dinner is inspired by that adventurous spirit and reflects dishes from all the cities that formed part of the Grand Tour. While we might not be donning powdered wigs or traveling by carriage, we can still capture the essence of those grand journeys with every bite!

Experience the passion of Italian opera as the soaring voices of the National Opera ensemble deliver timeless arias during our 'Tour' - a celebration of Italian cultural heritage that transforms each aria into a vivid, unforgettable moment.

DJ Joe (Joe Pelle) will step us into a world where every note tells a story and get us to kick up our heels on the dance floor.

The evening will include silent and live auctions, and a raffle.  Money raised will provide a scholarship for an ANU student of Italian Language and Culture to travel and study at the University for Foreigners in Siena.

BOOKING INFORMATION COMING SOON

Giro del Vino - Wine Tour

Spend the day, bring a friend. We’ll take you from the Italian Cultural Centre to Mount Majura and Shaw Estate Vineyards - enjoy coffee and pastries to begin, followed by wine tastings, vineyard tours and lunch.

1. Coffee & pastries

Arrive Italian Culutural Centre, FORREST 9.30am

2. Wine tasting & vineyard tour

Mount Majura Vineyard, CANBERRA

3. Lunch, wine tasting & games

Shaw Estate Vineyard, MURRUMBATEMAN

Return Italian Cultural Centre, FORREST approx. 4.30pm

BOOKING DETAILS TBC

Italian festa – Sotto le Stelle – celebration of Italian culture and aligned with the Pompeii Exhibition at the National Museum of Australia. Everyone is welcome.

A free Italian Festival in the garden areas of the Museum including

• entertainment

• Italian food vans

• Italian community association stands

Organised by the National Museum of Australia in collaboration with Viva Italia in Canberra, and Italian community associations

Auto Italia is an annual showcase of Italian automotive design. Hundreds of exceptional cars, motorbikes and scooters gather each year from across the nation, in celebration of Italian motoring history and the ongoing cultural influence it has on the international landscape. If you own one of these beautiful pieces of art on wheels, are considering doing so, or just love to admire and talk about them, this is where you need to be.  

ENTER YOUR VEHICLE
Auto Italia will have tickets on sale in early 2025 for this prestige vehicle showcase.  https://www.autoitaliacanberra.com/

Fogolar Furlan of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Cooma promotes connections with Friulian people living in the ACT Region.

The Fogolar Furlan is holding an annual get-together at the Italian Cultural Centre to celebrate Palm Sunday on 13 April 2025.

The Palm Sunday celebration has been a significant calendar event for the club. It will start with a mass followed by a meal of traditional Friulian food including polenta, frico and cotechino.

See here for more details.

$50 pre paid

$52 on the day

BOOKINGS MUST BE MADE BY 31 MARCH 2025

TO BOOK PLEASE CONTACT

Rosa Pauletto (mob.) 0410 814 112

Chef Christophe and Josephine are thrilled to present a unique event as part of the Viva Italia in Canberra Festival, running from March 28th to April 13th.

This festival celebrates the rich culture, community, and history of Italy.

While Chef Christophe is known for his expertise in French cuisine, his Italian wife, Josephine, has undoubtedly influenced his culinary repertoire.

Together, they’ve curated exclusive gourmet tours to Calabria, Italy, as well as to Griffith, NSW.

They are passionate about sharing la dolce vita with you, and invite you to join them for a special Italian 3 course lunch event on Sunday, April 13th in Bungendore.

Buckingham Estate Community Hall is located 4km from Bungendore, on Tarago Road.