In its third year, Qui Italia festival is already a familiar fixture for Sofia’s residents. The goal remains the same, to create an opportunity for Italians and friends of Italy to meet in an environment resembling traditional folk celebrations – an initiative that has been met with spontaneous and decisive approval, which has only become stronger over the years.
For one week, Sofia will once again become the stage for authentic Italian atmosphere with its cultural, artistic, musical and culinary diversity.

The event’s organisers plan new attractions for the third annual festival, which will be held on and around the Summer Stage in Sofia’s Borissovata Gradina park.Throughout the festival, stands will offer visitors cuisine and wines from different parts of Italy. Entry is free.

Thursday, June 17
8.30pm Opening ceremony and concert by Intra Terra troupe from Naples.
A trip to Southern Italy and the Mediterranean with a music and dance performance from Intra Terra, combining original compositions with traditional folk songs.

Friday, June 18
6pm Playtoy Orchestra concert
Making music out of children’s toys is as much an unusual as it is a brilliant idea. This is the only orchestra in the world that plays on toys, inviting the classics to join their playground. The musicians hail from Campania and, having performed both on radio and TV shows, they are now on a world tour to spread their playful tunes.
9pm Repeat performance by Intra Terra troupe

Saturday, June 19
11am Spend the morning with Cumbojuggle, the first free circus space in Bulgaria.
4pm Teatroviaggiante presents Duo Pink
A show with dances, pantomime, bowling and unicycles. The performance in Italian, by Elisabetta Cavana and Edoardo Mirabella, is the story of one honeymoon, featuring big pink trunk and one happy couple in pink. Clown, juggling and acrobatic tricks will bring back to life the old city performance tradition, which continues to fascinate the young and the grown-up alike.
7pm Repeat performance by Playtoy Orchestra
10pm An evening with a famous Italian DJ

Sunday, June 20
11am Laboratorio Circo with Compagnia Cumbonauta
4pm Second performance of Duo Pink by Teatroviaggiante
6pm Coro Malga Roma concert Coro Malga
Roma tours Italy and the world to showcase the musical, historical and cultural heritage of military songs from the Alps, along with the pleasure of singing them.  The songs are mostly classics being sung in mountain cabins, during breaks on the mountain trail and during military training. The passion for mountains that Bulgarians have will find an echo in the performance by Coro Malga Roma.
8pm Repeat performance by Playtoy Orchestra

Monday, June 21
8.30pm Canta che ti passa – karaoke evening
Famous songs for everyone wanting to participate

Tuesday, June 22
8pm Concert by 4 SOUND band
The four youngsters from Como have only one passion – music – and are driven by the desire to accumulate more experience. As an amateur band, the quartet participat
ed in the X Factor TV show on RAI2. The youngsters often spend their evenings together having fun, a feeling that they are certain to pass on to their Bulgarian audience.

Wednesday, June 23
8pm 4 SOUND and Bulgarian friends
The Italian band will take to the stage with Bulgarian young singers who perform in Italy
10pm Closing ceremony and fireworks
Folklore troupe I Briganti della Majella from Abruzzo region claim to be allergic to stages and prefer to perform within their audience. Unpredictable and unstoppable, it will be difficult for you to find them because they will find you first!