THE grounds of a Keighley school hosted a variety of well-attended Italian themed celebrations over the weekend. (June 24/25)

On both Saturday and Sunday the Keighley branch of the Christian Association of Italian Workers (ACLI) staged Italian Festival – Festa Della Repubblica – outside University Academy Keighley.

This was the second year in a row the group had arranged the free admission event.

The weekend featured a range of traders and producers from Italy, some of them already established in London and some looking for new business opportunities in the UK.

Visitors came to taste high quality, Italian wines, artisanal beers produced in Sicily and admire a display of vintage Italian cars.

Other produce on offer included cheeses, various types of sausages and cured meats, biscuits and desserts from regions such as Sicily and Sardegna.

As well as an outdoor pizza oven making stone-baked pizzas, the event provided a barbecue where visitors could eat rustic homemade Italian sausage panini.

The event saw the presentation of awards for dedication and charity work to Maria Petrisano Bagarozza, Maria Negro, Antonio Familio and Michelangelo Iannucci.

These were presented by the president of Foundation of the Italians in Europe, professor Giuseppe Arnone.

Keighley ACLI vice chairman Emanuele Bernardini said the festival had been extremely successful.

He added: "The weekend was attended by MP of the Italian Parliament, Alessio Tacconi, Roberto Stasi, secretary of the Italian Democratic Party in London and also by Lorenzo Losi, president of ACLI UK.

"People who came along had a chance to enjoy a comedy twist on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

"Another theatrical performance was a play by the kids from the Italian school in Keighley, Bradford and Leeds, which is called Gabbianella ed il Gatto, known as "Lucky and Zorba" in English.

"The young students did a fantastic job of staging this play in Italian.

"Feedback from visitors was fabulous and some even commented that for those few hours they felt that they were in a corner of Italy!

"While the weather was touch and go, the atmosphere was fabulous.

"As soon as the sun reappeared the area resembled an Italian Piazza on a sunny afternoon. People were sat eating, drinking, chatting and laughing.

"As usual all the proceeds will back into the ACLI charity, to help with the development of the Italian School, which is growing at a swift pace.

"The school's Italian lessons are open to all those who wish to learn the language, regardless of background or nationality."