Italian: A “Brilliant” Language—Italian Language Week in the World Takes Place in Paris

(ANSA) - PARIGI, 22 OTT - The Italian language and culture take center stage in Paris during the 26th edition of the Week of the Italian Language in the World, with two events organized by the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute: on October 20, at the Institute, the theatrical monologue “A Night Journey Around My Bedroom,” based on the work by Xavier de Maistre in the Italian translation by Paolina Leopardi and performed by Giuseppe Nitti; on October 21, at the Embassy, the event “Italian Treasures in France: The Art of Manuscripts and Miniatures,” organized in collaboration with the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) and the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia Institute. Promoted annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through its diplomatic-consular network and the Italian Cultural Institutes, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, the initiative is one of the key events in Italian cultural diplomacy. The 2026 edition, dedicated to the theme “Brilliant Language: Conceiving, Designing, and Creating with Italian,” aims to highlight the Italian language as an expression of creativity, knowledge, and innovation. The main speakers at the event hosted by the Embassy were Prof. Carlo Ossola, President of the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia Institute, and Gilles Pécout, President of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, in a discussion moderated by journalist and writer Fabio Gambaro, founder of Italissimo, a festival dedicated to Italian literature in France. Before a large audience composed of representatives from the Italian and French literary, academic, cultural, and institutional worlds, the discussion explored the richness of the Italian manuscript tradition and the art of illumination, focusing on the circulation of works and knowledge between Italy and France and on the role of cultural institutions in the preservation and promotion of a shared heritage. The highlight of the evening was the *Romuleon*, a precious manuscript by Benvenuto da Imola preserved in the BnF’s collections, recently reproduced in facsimile by Treccani as part of the “Tesori svelati” series. The publication is the result of a significant scholarly collaboration between the two institutions, bringing together historical research, artistic expertise, artisanal skill, and technological innovation to reproduce the characteristics of the original manuscript with the utmost fidelity. In his introductory remarks, Ludovico Serra, Chargé d’Affaires at the Italian Embassy in Paris, emphasized the central role of culture in bilateral relations: “May this event further contribute to interpreting culture as a living and essential dimension of relations between our countries: a space for mutual understanding and dialogue that we have the privilege of continuing to cultivate together.” The symbolic value of the work was highlighted by Prof. Ossola’s words: “Who wouldn’t want to be an heir to the history of ancient Rome? All of Europe has claimed this legacy, and this *Romuleon*, written by Benvenuto da Imola and illuminated in Bourges in Jean Colombe’s workshop, is the most distinguished embodiment of Humanism and European consciousness.” For his part, President Pécout emphasized the deep ties that unite the two countries from a literary and linguistic perspective: “With Flaubert’s Emma Bovary, who ‘wanted to learn Italian,’ the Italian language no longer belongs solely to the world of scholars in France. From the study of Italian manuscripts in the King of France’s library to the study of Italian in the schools of the Republic, the adventures of Dante’s language speak to the richness of the French perspective on Italy.” The Italian Cultural Institute in Paris also accompanied the celebrations for Italian Language Week Around the World with a program that, from September through December, explores the many expressions of our language through literature, theater, cinema, and music. Among the events was a lecture by historian Alessandro Barbero on October 12, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi and the *Canticle of the Creatures*, one of the earliest examples of Italian literature in the vernacular. The program also featured monologues adapted from the works of Alberto Moravia and Elsa Morante, performed by Lucia Lavia and Arianna Scommegna, respectively, to a large and deeply moved audience, as well as a presentation of Denise Pardo’s novels, attended by the author and writer André Aciman. Upcoming events include an international conference and a performance dedicated to Carlo Collodi and Pinocchio, as well as tributes to Mario Soldati, Carlo Fruttero, Pier Vittorio Tondelli, and Emilio Salgari’s *Sandokan*, in a theatrical adaptation. “Parisians love Italian—not only as a means of enjoying our culture, but also as a language with an important history and rich in regional variations, such as Neapolitan and Venetian, the languages of Eduardo and Goldoni. This love is evidenced by the more than one thousand students of all ages enrolled in our courses,” stated the Institute’s Director, Antonio Calbi, who then continued: “For SLIM, we chose to highlight a female voice—that of Paolina Leopardi, sister of the more famous Giacomo—who produced a highly effective translation, infused with touches of lyricism and irony, Xavier De Maistre’s *A Nighttime Journey Around My Bedroom*, written by the general and writer in his room in Turin. A precious literary gem that once again bears witness to the friendship between the two countries, even in the literary sphere, and in which actor Giuseppe Nitti has excelled with great skill.” The events organized by the Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute confirm the central role of linguistic and cultural promotion in Italy’s international activities and attest to the vitality of Franco-Italian cultural cooperation, embodying the continuity between tradition and innovation.
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