La Dolce Vita comes to life at Italian Republic Day Festival
La Dolce Vita comes to life at Italian Republic Day Festival
The 2025 Italian Republic Day Festival took place on Sunday, June 1, at the Italian Club Pretoria, drawing thousands of attendees to a day-long celebration of Italian culture, food, and design.
Now a regular fixture on the city's cultural calendar, the event once again provided a broad showcase of Italian heritage, featuring culinary offerings, classic cars, and contemporary design.
Over 20 Italian food vendors, including restaurants from Pretoria, served a range of traditional dishes such as pasta, pizza, antipasti, and regional desserts. Italian wine, beer, and the ever-popular Aperol Spritz were also available.
A major drawcard was the display of Italian vehicles, featuring brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ducati, Vespa, and Abarth.
Beyond food and cars, more than 40 stalls featured Italian lifestyle goods, including leather accessories, clothing, and home products. Live Italian music played throughout the day, contributing to the festive atmosphere.
One of the more interactive features of the festival was the pasta-making station, hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute and the Prue Leith Culinary Institute. Visitors could try their hand at shaping traditional regional pastas and take part in the Pasta Challenge, which was popular across all age groups.
The event succeeded in bringing together food, design, automotive culture and community, offering a brief but comprehensive celebration of Italy's national day.
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