28 March - 13 April 2025
what’s on
SOLD OUT! Italian Movie Night - Roman Holiday
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.
SORRY THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!
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".
Carl Rafferty Presents: Italian Neapolitan tenor Mr Raffaele Pierno
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 “Viva Italia in Canberra”.
Expect Nessun Dorma, highlights from La Boheme, arias for Tosca, duets from La Traviata, and sentimental Italian ballads!
This is opera at its best with all the great tunes, fabulous singing, huge emotions, and NONE of the boring bits.
Bubbles and nibbles are included.
We are thrilled to be presenting this concert in the futuristic SHINE DOME of the Academy of Science.
Doors open 6.30pm. $79
BOOK LAUNCH - Dante's Inferno - Translation by Enrico Mercuri
Please join us as Enrico Mercuri presents on his translation of Dante’s Inferno. Enrico is the Australian born son of Italian migrants who has had significant exposure to Italian culture here and in travel to Italy. Amongst other roles (Taxation Law practitioner, Level E academic), Enrico is passionate about Italian literature and culture. He has expressed his passion by translating this most famous of Dante’s writings.
Hosted by Manning Clark House. Refreshments will be served.
Members: $15.00
General Admission: $20.00
Concession: (Government support and full-time students) $15.00
Book Launch - Italy Unveiled - A Journey in Poetry by Luke Whitington
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
Luke Whitington
Michael Curtotti
SELLING FAST: TOUR DEL VINO
TOUR del Vino - Wine Tour
Selling Fast! Book now.
Welcome to Tour del Vino. Join us for a delightful day starting at the Italian Cultural Centre in Forrest at 9:30 where you will be welcomed with pastries and coffee before heading off on private mini buses for a wondrous wine tour.
First stop is Mount Majura Wines where you will enjoy a wine tasting accompanied by antipasto platters. Take a stroll through the vineyard where will hear from an expert and learn about the winemaking process.
Then we are off to Shaw Estate at Murrumbateman where you can continue your journey with fine wines and breathtaking vineyard views. You will be among the first to experience the newly opened restaurant in the stunning cellar door where we will enjoy wood fired pizza of your choosing. Arrival time back at the ICC Forrest is around 4:30PM.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to experience the beauty and taste of our Tour del Vino. Tickets for this event are limited so book now so you don’t miss out.
$100 per person
Immigration History at the National Archives of Australia
Tour of the National Archives including how to search for information and the history of immigration in Canberra.
Free
Sotto le Stelle - Italian Festa
Savour the taste of Italy with a magical evening under the stars at the National Museum of Australia. Inspired by the Pompeii exhibition, enjoy live music and performances, explore handmade goods and artisanal products in the marketplace, and sample authentic Italian dishes and drinks al fresco.
The Italian Festa: Sotto le Stelle is a family friendly event, with free activities for all ages.
With support from Viva Italia in Canberra and other Italian community groups. Exhibition entry not included.
Auto Italia
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/
Palm Sunday Function - Fogular Furlan
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.
$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
ITALY IN BUNGENDORE
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.
GALA DINNER: An Evening in Italy
Join us for our final event of Viva Italia and enjoy a wonderful Italian dinner inspired by the mothers of Italy.
Experience the passion of Italian opera as the soaring voices of the National Opera ensemble deliver timeless arias during our 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.
Cost TBC
BOOKINGS OPEN SOON!
Italian Music Evening @ Smith’s alternative
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.
Book Launch - A CLIMBING LIFE - ARMANDO CORVINI
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.
SOLD OUT! Calabrese Federation Dinner Dance
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!
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)
ENQUIRIES: PLEASE CONTACT
Teresa Colosimo (m) 0410 507 327
Accademia Italiana della Cucina - THE ITALIAN PLACE
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