A journey through Italian art, culture, and flavors in the heart of Cyprus
The Cyprus Italian Festival
The key idea of the Cyprus Italian Festival is to create a cultural bridge between Italy and Cyprus, celebrating Italian art, culture, fashion, cinema, music, and products. The festival aims to transform Paphos into an international cultural destination, promoting environmental sustainability and social awareness through workshops and educational activities. Additionally, the event offers an immersive and engaging experience for visitors, with exhibitions, performances, and business meetings that highlight Italian excellence.
The Project: The Festival and The Territory
The Cyprus Italian Festival will lead Paphos to become a cultural destination during the festival period, a necessary condition to help evolution in the internationality of the younger generations. Thousands of Italian fans style, every summer, they will find in Paphos a quality program, rich, eclectic, surprising, which will connect emerging talents and guests prestigious. The audience will be the soul of the Festival, which will be greeted by magical scenarios, hosting at least 20,000 spectators every day.
The Cyprus Italian Festival will be a beautiful Cypriot reality and the success of a city: PAPHOS, which with this event will be able to win back many consensus and perhaps that of taking back the central role of capital in the name of Venus of art, culture and beauty, becoming a bridge between Italy and Cyprus, Europe and the rest of the world.
Strengths of The Cyprus Italian Festival
- Cultural Bridge: The festival creates a unique cultural bridge between Italy and Cyprus, fostering international connections and cultural exchange.
- Diverse Offerings: It showcases a wide range of Italian excellence, including art, fashion, cinema, music, and gastronomy, providing a rich and eclectic experience for visitors.
- Educational Impact: The festival promotes environmental sustainability and social awareness through workshops and educational activities, particularly aimed at school children.
- Immersive Experience: Visitors can enjoy immersive experiences such as video mapping, 3D projections, and virtual reality, making the festival engaging and memorable.
- Economic Boost: The event supports the local economy by attracting thousands of visitors and providing opportunities for Italian businesses to connect with international and Cypriot distributors and buyers.
The Reason For A Choice
Rediscovering the Myth and Beauty of Paphos through Italian Excellence
Paphos is an ancient land, unique of its kind, a UNESCO Heritage site and a seaside city that boasts the birthplace of Venus. Over time, it has been the scene of great historical events. Located on the island of Cyprus, which, due to its location and amenities, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Paphos offers a wide range of accommodation solutions, excellent hospitality, and cordiality during both the winter and summer seasons.
As narrated in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” the name Paphos derives from a myth involving the goddess Venus and the sculptor Pygmalion. It is said that Pygmalion went to the sumptuous temple in the city to pray to Venus to bring to life a statue he had sculpted, which had the appearance of his perfect woman and to which he had given the name Galatea. Venus granted his wish, and the statue came to life. United with Pygmalion, they conceived Paphos.
The Cyprus Italian Festival was born from the desire to give back to the territory “its myth” and the roots of one’s memory, in the awareness of the historical and spiritual origins that bind the Cypriot and Italian people through the myth of Venus. The aim is to enhance the beauty of the place, bringing it to the fore with an international art showcase under the banner of Italian Style.
The general organization of THE CYPRUS ITALIAN FESTIVAL is curated by ESMIRA LTD under the direction of ANTONIO D’ONOFRIO, with the collaboration of YOULIAN PEYTCHEV, organizational manager.
Where Culture Meets Commerce in the Spirit of Italy
The Dual Essence of the Cyprus Italian Festival
The City Of The Lights
Illuminating Paphos with the Spirit of Italian Art
Throughout the duration of the Festival, Paphos becomes the city of lights, its most important monuments will be illuminated with artistic expressions inspired by Italian art, in the era of “Digital Projection Arts”.
The facades of the most beautiful palaces, castles, and towers of Paphos will become the protagonists of the video mapping (3D projection on architecture), a further spectacular form of light entertainment to celebrate the Festival, art, and beauty in the sign of Venus (with a short audiovisual and musical narration in 3D in Loop).
A special stand will be set up for an important immersive and virtual experience dedicated to all visitors. Spectators will be able to have direct experiences with various 360-degree virtual experiences, such as being immersed in gladiator fights inside the Colosseum, exhibitions, and more.
Celebrating Italian Excellence Under the Stars
The Night Of The Golden Venus
The organization annually awards the “Golden Venus of Cyprus,” culminating in the grand gala award ceremony, “The Night of the Golden Venus.”
“The Night of the Golden Venus” is an evening tribute to Italian style, dedicated to the presentation of the Venus of Cyprus prizes, inspired by the famous painting by Botticelli. This gala evening honors achievements in various fields, including Cinema, Music, Publishing, Culinary Arts, Cuisine and Winemaking.
The Grand Gala Award Ceremony becomes the international hub of Italian Style in Cyprus, celebrating excellence and creativity.
Unveiling the Beauty and Heritage of Paphos
Discover Paphos: A Visual Journey
