The Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Rome is located in a quiet street, not far away from the lively historical center of the city. The building was donated to the Bulgarian state by world-famous opera singer Boris Christoff, who lived there in the past. Over the years, the place has established itself as a "campus" for training young Bulgarian opera talents, but not only that. The institute is the initiator of various events aimed at promoting Bulgarian culture in the Italian capital. Some of the most famous contemporary Bulgarian artists in the fields of cinema, opera, literature, ballet, painting, etc. have presented their work here.

"In the past, almost no one in Italy knew about Bulgaria," Jana Yakovleva, head of the Institute, says. "Years ago, I had a meeting in Rome's town hall, and I asked if they knew who Assen Peikov was. A rather high-ranking politician told me that Peikov was an Italian sculptor, but I cut him off. The sculptor who made the monument to Leonardo da Vinci at Fiumicino Airport is actually Bulgarian! Then we talked about other famous names connected with Bulgaria and he told me: ‘Yes, it's our fault that we don't know about you! But you are not doing anything so that we can recognize your culture,’" Jana Yakovleva recalls.

A lot of time has passed since then and these days Bulgarian art is recognized and respected in the Eternal City. Jana remembers the first events of the "Festival of Bulgarian Cinema" with the participation of iconic Bulgarian filmmakers 16 years ago:

• Bulgarian films screened in the heart of the Eternal City

"During the three days dedicated to Bulgarian cinema, there was attendance, but most of the people were Bulgarians. Now we are already showing Bulgarian films in Casa del cinema, which is located in Villa Borghese. This is one of the iconic places in Rome.

The idea is to reach iconic places such as Casa del cinema or for example the Auditorium parco della musica where our performances are enjoyed by huge audiences. This year we were able to present the “Arabesque” Ballet Company once again in Teatro Italia as Italians love our ballet. Stefan Komandarev's film "Blaga’s Lessons" was recently shown at the film festival in Rome and won the prize. But these are things that don't happen overnight," the head of the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Rome says.

• Bulgarian film Blaga's Lessons wins the Grand Prize of the Jury at the Rome Film Festival

The opera singing course of the Boris Christoff Academy has been resumed in the former home of the great basso. Young musicians also present violin and cello concerts to the Italian audience. Performances are also organized on the summer stage in the courtyard of the Institute.

In 2021, in the center of Rome, not far from Navona Square, a new Bulgarian art space opened its doors - the "Bulgaria" Gallery, where citizens and guests to the city get to know Bulgarian art, traditions and opportunities for tourism.

"Very often we rent halls and we have New Year's concerts in Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, which is located in the center of Rome. Over the years, the Bulgarian Cultural Institute has established friendships with various iconic venues in Italy, thanks to which we do very successful tours. For example, when our opera singing course ends, in addition to Rome, where our students give concerts, we go to Buggiano Castello, where Boris Christoff lived for many years. He is adored there and people still talk about him; there is also a commemorative plaque dedicated to him. We have performances on the square, then we go to Belluno, where in recent years our opera singers have had incredible concerts," Jana Yakovleva adds.

English publication: Al. Markov

Photos Veneta Nikolova, FB / IstitutoBulgaroDiCultura