The Ambassador of Italy to the UK and the Consul General, Massimiliano Mazzanti visit Manchester and Liverpool, pulsating centres of the Northwest.
It was an occasion to visit the academic centres and the respective Italian communities, as well as inaugurating the new Italian Chamber of Commerce in Manchester.
In Manchester, the Ambassador – as keynote speaker – addressed the conference “Stay Italian, Stay Abroad – Restare Italiani, all’estero”, which focused on the relationship between Italian and local communities and the links between Italians living in the UK and in Italy. The evening saw the Ambassador inaugurate the new Italian Chamber of Commerce, a positive sign of an ever growing Italian economic presence in this part of the United Kingdom.
The Ambassador also met with the Lord Mayor and toured the Italian Studies Department, an occasion to meet Italian academics at the cutting edge of research in their subject areas and visited the John Rylands Library, where he was able to have a close look at Gutenberg’s Bible and the oldest known fragment of the Gospel. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Dame Nancy Rothwell received the Ambassador to terminate the University Tour.
At a lunch organised by the Councillor of the Comites, Mr. Mancuso, the Ambassador met with members of the local Italian Community.
In Liverpool, the Ambassador toured the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at Liverpool University, where he met Italian Professors, Researchers and Students. Focus of the meeting was the current trend in teaching of Italian as a foreign language.
The number of Italians living in the United Kingdom has trebled over the last five years and the Italian presence in the North West continues to rise with both Manchester and Liverpool at the forefront of this trend. The opening of the Chamber of Commerce is a positive signal, setting a significant foundation for the future of the Italian community.
– Italian Studies University of Manchester
– Department of Modern Languages University of Liverpool
Ambassador Pasquale Terracciano and the Lord Mayor, Councillor Susan Cooley
