From July 22 to 26, Avenida Diogo Leite will host the 8th edition of the Italian Festival, the largest event dedicated to Italian culture in Portugal. With free admission, the festival transforms Gaia’s riverfront into a small Italian square on the banks of the Douro, bringing together cuisine, music, art, and tradition over five days.
Music, acrobatic pizza, and workshops
On the main stage, Stefano Saturnini, Totò and Totó, Valerio Ananse, Anonima Nuvolari, and Donatello Brida will take the stage, with DJ sets by DJ Venusia and DJ Pancho rounding out the lineup. Among the most anticipated attractions are the return of the acrobatic pizza shows, in which master pizzaiolos defy gravity before the audience. For those who’d rather participate than just watch, there are free workshops such as “Mamma, che Pasta!”, “Mamma, che Gelato!”, and “Pizza per Bambini!”.
Movies and entertainment for the little ones
The program also includes activities for families: there is a session dedicated to the classic *Pinocchio*, while the show “Pagliaccio Arachide” features juggling, magic, and interactive elements designed especially for young audiences.
New this year: a classic Fiat painted live
For the first time, the festival will feature an art installation being created over the course of the five days: a classic Fiat will be painted live, brushstroke by brushstroke, transforming into a unique work of art in homage to one of the greatest symbols of Italian design. Visitors can follow the entire creative process, from start to finish.
A culinary journey through Italy
At the venue, featured flavors include artisanal pizzas, Roman pinsa, antipasti, fresh pasta, gnocchi, risottos, lasagnas, paninis, artisanal ice cream, and traditional Italian sweets. The big culinary novelty of this edition is sweet pizzas, a treat that promises to surprise even the most curious visitors.
According to Michele Mezzero, president of the Associazione Sapori Italiani, the festival “is much more than a culinary event,” describing it as a meeting place for different cultures that seeks, every year, to surprise the public with new experiences without losing its authenticity.
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