Pavilion of Nations

The Pavilion of Nations in Piazza della Signoria Piazza della Signoria will take on the blue colour of Europe from May 6th - 10th 2011 thanks to the Pavilion of Nations set up there to house the stands of the ten European countries which accepted the invitation to take part in this first edition of the Festival of Europe.

One of the countries participating will be Turkey, which is a candidate country for EU membership and strongly committed to the process of getting closer to the community institutions. The Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxemburg, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden are the other participants, and each will present their own initiatives and their individual look at the Union. The French stand will present projects promoting French language and culture, which will open a window onto contemporary France for the visitors to the Pavilion. Luxemburg plans to distribute information and show a DVD on the country’s peculiarities.

The Romanian infopoint will host a photographic exhibition highlighting the characteristics of the Country as well as showing videos and distributing promotional material. Hungary’s presence will focus on the one hand on the Hungarian presidency of the European Union and on the other it will be distinguished by a particularly prestigious event: a concert by the Hungarian pianist Balázs Fülei. The appointment is for Sunday May 8th at 17.00 in Palazzo Vecchio, in the Salone de’ Cinquecento. This gifted young Hungarian will perform music by the composer Ferenc Liszt in honour of the bicentennial of his birth.

There will also be an occasion dedicated to local culinary traditions, also thanks to Sweden’s participation. On May 8th they are hosting an event in Palazzo Vecchio entitled. A Swedish culinary odyssey: authentic flavours, language and culture, devoted to linguistic and culinary traditions. Portugal will present projects on and experience of electric mobility and renewable energy and Germany will be celebrating the 125th anniversary of the birth of the motor car.

The Czech Republic will present a photographic exhibition on the history of the mass exodus which took place from Bohemia and an exhibition of works by the young Czech artist Ladislav Sýkora.