Odesa and Italy: A New Era of Collaboration
The Mayor of Odesa, Gennady Trukhanov, met with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Ukraine, Mr. Carlo Formosa.
During the meeting, the mayor expressed his gratitude to the ambassador for his support in organizing the participation of Ukrainian veterans in the Venetian regatta and shared updates on the development of rehabilitation services in Odessa, particularly adaptive sports.
The parties discussed Italy's assistance to Ukraine and the restoration of the Odesa region. Specifically, they addressed the implementation of a grant agreement signed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome. Under this agreement, the Italian government will provide Ukraine with 32.5 million euros in non-repayable aid for the restoration of six iconic monuments in Odesa, including the Art Museum, Philharmonic, Literary Museum, Marriage Palace, and the Zontag House on Primorsky Boulevard.
The Zontag House is set to become the UNESCO Heritage Management Center—a coordinating and resource center aimed at preserving our city's cultural heritage.
Italy supports Odesa not only financially but also with expertise: a joint working group has been established with specialists from the Roman Superintendence, educational programs for restoration have commenced, and a sustainable heritage management project has been initiated.
Additionally, the Italian delegation arrived in Odesa to congratulate the winners of the First International Opera Singers Competition RECITAR CANTANDO (“Acting through Song”), which was held with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Ukraine. The gala concert will take place today on the legendary stage of the Odesa National Opera.
