Republik Italia: Enjoy a dolce vita weekend

Few locations could be more perfect: Barcelona's iconic Moll de la Fusta is preparing to dress up for the festive season on May 31st and June 1st, hosting the first edition of Republik Italia, a festival that aims to unite Italian and Catalan culture. For two days, the seafront promenade will be transformed into a tribute to the Italian dolce vita of the 1960s, open to everyone and packed with cultural activities, concerts, theater, and, of course, authentic Italian cuisine.

The Mediterranean connects us, and this event promises to remind us of everything we share: a passion for life, music, and, of course, good food.

A festival that aims to unite Italian and Catalan culture

"The concept is to bring back to Barcelona—which has welcomed us, from the perspective of the Italian community—a culturally engaging event," explains Diego Fiore, one of the organizers. Supported by the national anti-mafia association Via Libera—which comes directly from Italy—the festival focuses on music, theater, and culture as tools for social inclusion and convergence.

"A positive celebration of immigration, at a time when it seems like a global problem, we want to highlight that it's often also part of the wealth of societies," Fiore adds. Therefore, the festival's protagonists are artists, restaurants, and associations with Italian roots, many of them residents of the city.

A weekend to taste Italy

The festival will feature an irresistible gastronomic offering that will include six food trucks , each specializing in typical and distinctive recipes from the neighboring country:

• Algrano (fresh artisanal pasta)

• Red Garter (gourmet burgers)

• Amore Mio (Italian signature sandwiches)

• Turin (artisanal ice cream)

• Prodigio (high-altitude organic coffee)
• A Pizza (traditional Italian pizza)

Saturday kicks off with the play " Brothers Separated at Birth," performed by the Stabile Barcellona group. This will be followed by the conference "Encuentro con La Via Libera ," which will address European values ​​and the fight against the mafia from civil society. The atmosphere will liven up at midday with DJ Vintage Luca, the perfect accompaniment to the vermouth hour.

In the afternoon, Stefano Rivan will offer a musical journey through swing and jazz from the 1950s to the 1980s, followed by the intimate folk of Calabrian singer-songwriter Maria Teresa Lonetti. The band Los Carosones will close the day with a musical journey to the dance-filled Italy of the 1950s.

Sunday promises to be full of energy. The day kicks off with the sensitivity of Valenluna Trio, an Argentine guitarist and singer-songwriter. Vincenzo Costantino Cinasky will then take over, filling the stage with urban poetry and profound melodies. Operazione Romina will follow, bringing a vibrant dose of street hip-hop.

As night falls, the atmosphere transforms and the dance floor lights up with Glove's disco show, which will set the stage for the legendary Johnson Righeira, who will take us straight back to the 1980s with unforgettable songs like "Vamos a la Playa" and "L'estate sta finendo ." The finale will be Glove, who will play until the very end. A night of singing, dancing, and indulging in the most fun nostalgia.