The week dedicated to the Umbria Region has opened at the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka with a homage to art - the arrival of the Gonfalone della Giustizia (Banner of Justice) by Perugino.
    The painting by the Renaissance Umbrian master is part of the exhibit 'Umbria negli occhi del Perugino: lo spirito di una terra attraverso gli occhi dell'arte' (Umbria in the eyes of Perugino: the spirit of a territory thorough the eyes of art), curated by the Perugia-based Academy of Fine Arts 'Pietro Vannucci' and by the National Gallery of Umbria.
    The show displays a visual story of the region's territory as it has been represented over the centuries by art, which is inspired by the Italy Pavilion's theme 'Art Regenerates Life'.
    However, the Region is presenting itself under the banner 'Umbria in every sense' to highlight that art will not be the only local asset to be discussed over the coming week.
    "We are promoting Umbria in every sense, we want to promote our great ability to welcome and build this bridge between Umbria and Japan in an increasingly strong manner", said the Region's Tourism Councillor Simona Meloni.
    The Councillor stressed that "we are indeed here to discuss our authenticity, our sincerity, our beautiful landscapes, our food and wine products, our pilgrimages and this new type of sightseeing, which is a tourism based on experiences".
    In addition, visitors will be able to appreciate the region through its cuisine at the Italy Pavilion's Eataly restaurant, savouring local delicacies including truffle tagliatelle and Umbrian lentil soup.
    Events will also promote Umbria Jazz, a festival that has attracted leading international musicians since 1973 and which is represented at the universal exhibition by Funk Off, the festival's official Marching Band, which has 14 members and boasts 27 years of activity and over 1,000 concerts.
    The band performed at the inauguration and will continue to play twice a day for the entire duration of the week.
    It has already "attracted the attention of all those who were queuing", stressed Councillor Meloni.
    However, added Meloni, "we don't want this to only represent a window, even if it is very important and international.
    "We want it to truly become a place of cooperation, not only of competition between regions and States, and we want this great connection to get stronger" and for "Umbria to be ready to welcome the whole world, in particular the Japanese people".
    The Italy Pavilion has confirmed its role as a connecting platform with Asia.
    As stressed by the Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka Mario Vattani, in fact, "our role here is to also promote an entrepreneurial Umbria, an Umbria that is innovative".
    The public that crowded the exhibition area dedicated to Umbria since the early hours of the morning, will be present "during all these events ranging from high technology to tourism, music, cuisine, which will very much enrich the story of our pavilion this week", concluded Vattani.

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