Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender visited the Italian Republic from 20 to 22 September. With his visit, the Federal President paid tribute to the close and friendly relations between Germany and Italy and underlines their importance for Europe. The itinerary focused on cooperation at municipal level, climate change, renewable energies, migration and cultural exchange. Guests from the cultural sphere accompanied the Federal President.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella had invited the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender to visit Sicily, where he hails from. On 20 September, the Federal President held political talks with President Mattarella in Syracuse. Meanwhile, Elke Büdenbender and Laura Mattarella visited the Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum and held talks at the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights.
In the afternoon, both presidents spoke at the award ceremony for the second German-Italian town twinning prize. They then took a walk through the old town on the island of Ortigia. In the evening, they attended the theatre performance Ulysses, the Last Odyssey at the Greek Theatre before dining together.
On 21 September, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender viewed the areas affected by wildfires on Sicily and met with firefighters at Piazza Armerina. After this, they visited the Villa Romana del Casale, which was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1997. They also talked about migration with people working for the association Don Bosco 2000.
In the afternoon, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender visited the 3Sun Gigafactory in Catania, which produces photovoltaic modules, before travelling onwards to Venice. In the evening they met with curators of the Biennale Architettura and cultural scientists at the German Centre for Venetian Studies (DSZV).
On the morning of 22 September, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender concluded their trip with a visit to the Biennale Architettura in Venice.
Overview of the programme:
Wednesday, 20 September
- Arrival in Catania
- Syracuse, Castello Maniace
Welcome by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and Laura Mattarella - Talks with the President
- Luncheon hosted by the President
- Syracuse Municipal Theatre
Award ceremony for the second German-Italian town twinning prize, with speeches by the Federal President and the President of the Italian Republic - Walk through the old town on the island of Ortigia together
- Syracuse Greek Theatre
Theatre performance Ulysses, the Last Odyssey together with the President - Latomia del Paradiso
Dinner hosted by the President
Thursday, 21 September
- Syracuse helicopter airfield
Helicopter flight with the President over areas affected by wildfires - Piazza Armerina, helicopter airfield
Meeting with the head of the fire service in the town of Enna and volunteer firefighters - Villa Romana del Casale
Tour of the Villa together - Piazza Armerina, association Don Bosco 2000
Visit to the association together - Masseria Bannata farm
Joint press conference - Luncheon hosted by the President
- Catania, 3Sun Gigafactory
Tour of the factory for photovoltaic assembly lines run by the company Enel Green Power - Flight to Venice
- German Centre for Venetian Studies
Reception hosted by the Federal President
Friday, 22 September
- Visit to the 18th International Architecture Exhibition (Biennale Architettura)
- Flight to Berlin