Brussels – From the Colosseum to the Sforzesco Castle, from Castel dell’Ovo to the Theater of Syracuse. There are 60 monuments throughout the Italian peninsula which on the occasion of May 9th, Europe Day, between yesterday and today are illuminated with the colors of the European flag, twelve yellow stars on a blue field. An initiative of the European Parliament within the ‘Use your vote’ campaign to raise awareness among citizens of all 27 member countries of the Union in view of the elections next 6-9 June.
Seventeen regions, 49 cities and towns – from the metropolis of Milan to the town of Castel d’Azzano in the province of Verona – have decided to join an event that is illuminating the most emblematic monuments throughout Europe. In Italy, in addition to those already mentioned, the Mole Antonelliana in Turin, Santa Maria Novella in Florence, the Arco della Pace in Milan, the Reggia di Venaria, Palazzo del Podestà in Bologna, the archaeological site of Pompeii, Palazzo del Seggio in Lecce and the archaeological park of Agrigento.
At the same time, the European Parliament together with the representation of the EU Commission in Italy will organize the ‘Lights of Europe’ event in Rome based on music and images, to raise awareness of the June vote. It will begin at 7 pm with greetings from the mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, and several artists will then take the stage. The short film entitled will also be screened Use your votewhich collects the testimonies on democracy from some elderly citizens from different member countriesto pass them on to new generations and make clear how this right cannot be taken for granted.
Here is the interactive map of all the monuments which this evening in Italy will be illuminated with the colors of the European Union flag:
