Opening on Tuesday, 5 May, at 5 p.m.
Patronage: Italian Embassy in Bulgaria.
Organization: Alessia Autuori, National Gallery, Sofia, and the Italian Cultural Institute, Sofia.
Curated by: Dominique Lora, Stefania Baldinotti, Maurizio Presutti.
In collaboration with: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic; Institute for the Intangible Heritage, Rome; MUCIV, Rome; Mimmo Cattarinich Foundation, Rome; Municipality of Gubbio; National Museum of the Salce Collection; Regional Directorate of National Museums of Veneto; Weber & Weber Modern and Contemporary Art, Turin.
Francesca Pompei, Sunday Morning, 2010
On the occasion of the arrival of the 2026 Giro d’Italia in Bulgaria (the competition will start from Nessebar on the Black Sea on 8 May and finish in Sofia on 10 May, the Italian Embassy in Bulgaria and the Italian Cultural Institute in Sofia are pleased to present the exhibition GIRO D’ITALIA: A Brief History of Italy on Two Wheels, which will be held at the National Gallery / Kvadrat 500 in Sofia.
The bicycle has become part of our daily lives. We are accustomed to using it in various contexts and occasions, such as commuting to work, for sports, or simply for outdoor entertainment. Since the late 19th century, the bicycle has become a true inspiration, so much so that it has been featured prominently in contemporary art works and installations, film productions, as well as in scientific research on the territory and its ethnography. As an object and a means of transport, it has been – and still is – a rich subject for artists who celebrate its dynamism and modernity, generating representations that range from the Futurism of Boccioni, Dottori, and Depero, through the Pop Art of Mario Schifano, all the way to the present. For this special occasion, we are pleased to present to the Bulgarian public a selection of works by contemporary Italian masters, including Dario Ghibaudo, Francesca Pompei, Gaia Scaramella, Corrado Zeni, Marcovinicio, and Natino Chirico. The exhibition will also feature cinematographic stills from the Mimmo Cattarinich Foundation in Rome, vintage posters from the Salce Collection Museum (courtesy of the Italian Ministry of Culture), and ethnographic photographs from the Palumbo Archive from the Sigismondo Castromediano Museum in Lecce.
The exhibition depicts an Italy on two wheels, from the late 1940s to the present day, illustrating the diffusion and development of the bicycle as a means of transportation, but above all as a symbol of individual and collective rebirth, characteristic of our country.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Massimo Troisi in “The Postman”, 1994 © Mario Tursi
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Collateral events organized by the Italian Embassy in Bulgaria on the occasion of the “Giro d’Italia”.
On the occasion of the 2026 edition of the ‘Made in Italy’ Day and the start of the 2026 Giro d’Italia from Bulgaria, the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Sofia, in collaboration with the Sofia Union of Architects, present a lecture by Architect Paolo Gandolfi entitled: “Cycling Mobility in Italy and Reggio Emilia: An Excursus on the Initiatives and Policies Italy is Implementing to Promote Cycling,” followed by an an extensive analysis on the urban experience of the city of Reggio Emilia, considered a leading model in this field.
17 April, at 6 p.m., Union of Architects in Bulgaria, 11, Krakra St., free entrance
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Photographic exhibition: “In “Giro” through Siena: Promoting a Territory through the Giro d’Italia.”
The timeless charm of the famous Tuscan city—one of the most evocative stages of the 2025 Giro d’Italia—amidst medieval architecture and gentle hills, showcased through a selection of images that comprehend sport, culture, and its territory, creating a symbolic bridge between Italy and Bulgaria. A project organized by the Italian Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute in Sofia, the Municipality of Siena, and the International Observatory of Cultural Diplomacy.
30 April–31 August, outside the gate of the Italian Embassy in Sofia, 2B, Parizh St., free entrance
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Concert of the Duo Maggiolini–Zhuri at the Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum
To celebrate the arrival of the Giro d’Italia to Plovdiv on 10 May, the Maggiolini–Zhuri Duo presents a refined concert for flute and piano, hosted in the evocative setting of the Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum. The event represents a unique opportunity to enjoy the talent of two leading musicians from the contemporary chamber music scene.
Tommaso Maria Maggiolini is a Milanese flutist who has distinguished himself with a brilliant and international career. Having graduated at a young age from the “G. Verdi” Conservatory in Milan, he trained in Switzerland under the guidance of prestigious masters. His intense concert activity led him to perform in numerous European countries and the United States, collaborating with prestigious record labels and with Radiotelevisione Svizzera Italiana.
Adelajd Zhuri is an Albanian pianist. He began studying piano at the age of six under the guidance of Valbona Kasaj, and from a young age he distinguished himself in numerous competitions both in Albania and Italy. He studied at the “G. Tartini” Conservatory in Trieste, where he graduated with top marks, cum laude, and honorable mention, under the guidance of Teresa Trevisan. Throughout his career, he received over 30 international awards, and has performed as a soloist and in chamber music groups in several European countries.
8 May, at 6 p.m., Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum, free entrance
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The “Ambassadors and Diplomatic Staff Bike Ride”, open to the entire community, will take place on the occasion of “Europe Day” on the 9 May 2026.
The event, co-organized by the Embassy, the Municipality of Sofia, and the Representation of the European Commission, will celebrate the values of sport and unity among peoples on the occasion of Europe Day.
The event will follow the following schedule (also in the event of rain):
10:30 a.m.: Participants will gather in the square in front of the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, where the Giro d’Italia Village will be set up; there, a sales point will be set where participants will be able to purchase personalized pink t-shirts and merchandising.
11:00 a.m.: The bike ride will start and proceed along the route: Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. – Sofia University – Vasil Levski Blvd. – Patriarch Evtimiy Blvd. – Vitosha Blvd., before entering the square in front of NDK from “Pilonite” (the three large pylons located at the side of the building).
12:00 p.m.: Performance of the Ode to Joy and speeches by the authorities (Sofia Mayor, Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Head of the EU Commission Representation). After the institutional segment, attendees may visit the Italian and European stands, which will be set up in the square in front of NDK from 8 to 10 May as part of the Sofia Spring Fest.
5:00 p.m.: A concert by Bulgarian Eurovision artists, organized by the Representation of the EU Commission will take place on the stage set up in the square in front of NDK.
