The initiative seeks to highlight the diversity and specificity of the Armenian world, focusing chiefly on the nation’s history, music, traditions, literature, religion, cinema, architecture, painting and cuisine. Online events will be held and attended remotely and livestreamed in February-April, while physical events will happen in May and June, people behind the initiative say.

Titled “Armenia, The Plateau of Surprises”, the series was born in Comabbio, a charming commune in the North of Italy. Organizers say the initiative seeks to show the cultural richness that Armenia possesses, and the pride and resilience of its people so attached to their traditions.

In a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net, project coordinator Giusy Tunici said that at first the idea was to arrange several events, but the process snowballed into a major thing with the involvement of more professionals every day. A group of people who visited Armenia and loved the country, came up with the idea, and Tunici says it could be organized every year or every other year, so that community members – like her – with assistance from the municipality and cultural associations, could share their experiences with others.

The most amazing of all, however, is that the team has put everything togetherat no cost at all.

“Raffaella Marcaletti, a skilled painter, expressed her willingness to collaborate, and every painting withing the project was created by her. We are very lucky to have her in our team because her works are always wonderful. The project is arranged at zero costs because each of us is committed to making our contribution free of charge, and even using our own savings. We are not going to make a profit. If we managed to have resources, though, we would finance a project for our Armenian friends who have been having difficulties as a result of the recent conflict.,” Tunici explained.

“The most important thing is that the project was born with the idea of creating two or three small events, including film clubs, conferences and a small exhibition. With each passing day, however, it became richer and richer, thanks to the enthusiasm of each person invited to join. Everyone's interest made it possible to create such a rich and varied program. This is evidence that great things can be achieved with the correct amount of will and a lot of collaboration.”

Furthermore, the local travel company CamparIPadoaN is staging a fresh play in May, but the details are still being kept under wraps.

Keynote speakers and participants include prominent Italian author of Armenian descent Antonia Arslan, photojournalist Simone Zoppellaro, the Armenian Catholic Archeparch of Istanbul, Mons. Lévon Boghos Zékiyan, architect Ara Zarian, philosopher Siobhan Nash-Marshall (Manhattanville College of New York), marketing & PR consultant for the tourism industry Nadia Pasqual, travel experts Shushan Martirosyan, Aldo Ferrari (University of Venice, Italy), Marco Ruffilli (University of Geneva, Switzerland), chef Sedrak Mamulyan (Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions NGO) to name a few.