(25 February 2016) Twenty-five years ago the bilingual section of Gymnazium Ulica Ladislava Saru was founded, the only public high school in Slovakia that offers Italian language studies. For the occasion, a few days ago Bratislava celebrated the friendship between the two countries during the Gala Italia. Greeted by an audience of Italian and Slovak institutions, businessmen and friends of Italy, the high school principal Pavel Sadloň and the team of teachers of the Italian section praised the initiative, which for a quarter of a century produced hundreds of graduates who became true cultural mediators between Italy and Slovakia, often continuing their studies in Italy and today full-fledged members of the Slovak élite. The evening began with the institutional greeting by Italian Ambassador Roberto Martini, who stressed the spirit of friendship between Italy and Slovakia that serves as inspiration for the first edition of Gala Italia, and wished the best wishes to Slovakia for its first Presidency of the EU Council, scheduled for the second half of this year, “in a challenging period.” The head of the Italian diplomatic mission also stressed the importance of the 25 years of Saru High School’s language program, which serves a fundamental function in training generations of Slovaks to love the Italian language and culture. Finally, Ambassador Martini also handed a letter of thanks to Headmaster Sadlon by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the proceeds of the evening were also entrusted to the School. “I do not know the person who is not fascinated by at least something Italian – were the words of affection towards Italy spoken by the vice president of the Slovak National Council Miroslav Ciz – Whether it’s a beautiful landscape, the sea, the sun, the historical monuments, nature, art or the Great Beauty, or the search for the meaning of human existence in the beautiful historical sets that live life with inimitable lightness and humor”. Also present at the Gala was the Media and Culture Committee chairman of the Slovak Parliament Dusan Jarjabek, the Italian Cultural Institute director Antonia Grande, the President of the Italian-Slovak Chamber of Commerce Alexander Resch, the Dean of Comenius Karol Micieta and famous tenor Miroslav Dvorsky, who opened the evening with a performance of Italian songs from the first half of the 20th century. A mini-exhibition welcomed guests in the atrium of the building, creating an effect of “Piazza Italy” by showcasing some symbols of Italian creativity. (Red)
