So far, so close: Italy, the Mediterranean and Africa, a series of nine conferences and three days of study on the relationship between the two shores of the Mediterranean between the late Middle Ages and the contemporary age

The Department for the Promotion of Cultural Heritage (DiVA), VIVE – Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia, the Colosseum Archaeological Park, and the National Roman Museum are promoting the project “So Far, So Close: Italy, the Mediterranean, and Africa”: an important opportunity to explore the relationship between Italy, the broader Mediterranean, and Africa between the late Middle Ages and the contemporary age through meetings combining scientific research and dissemination.

The initiative—born from a strategic agreement between DIVA and the aforementioned museum institutes—responds to one of the political priorities defined by the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, which includes cultural cooperation projects with Africa and the wider Mediterranean as part of the Mattei Plan.

The program, under the scientific direction of Massimo Carlo Giannini, full professor of Modern History at the University of Teramo and a leading expert in the field, includes a series of nine lectures—scheduled every Monday, starting October 6th—and three study days dedicated to the relationships between Italy, the greater Mediterranean, and Africa from the late Middle Ages to the contemporary age.

The initiative aims to transcend two established interpretative models: on the one hand, the idea of ​​an absolute otherness between the two shores of the Mediterranean, and on the other, a vision limited to the colonial framework. The program was designed to appeal to a diverse audience and fulfill a specific educational purpose: all events are recognized as training courses, primarily for Ministry of Culture staff.

The project includes a series of nine conferences, scheduled for Mondays, which will take place in three particularly important locations: the Sala del Refettorio of Palazzo Venezia for VIVE (6, 13 and 20 October 2025 at 6:00 pm), the Curia Iulia of the Colosseum Archaeological Park (27 October, 3 and 10 November at 5:00 pm) and the Palazzo Massimo branch of the National Roman Museum (17 November, 1 and 15 December at 6:00 pm).

As part of the project, the program also offers three thematic study days, taking place at the same locations and spanning the entire day, starting at 9:30 a.m.: at VIVE on October 22nd, at the Colosseum Archaeological Park on November 26th, and at the National Roman Museum on December 17th.

The journey begun with "So Far, So Close" will end in 2026 with a major international conference, bringing together some of the leading experts on the topic.