This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
From Little Italy to the Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal is going Italian to celebrate the sweet life in all its glory. Here are the events and other activities not to be missed this summer.
The next generation of Italian cinema invites itself to Dante Park
As it celebrates its tenth anniversary, the Festival of Contemporary Italian Cinema is making its grand return to Dante Park. Every Wednesday, as soon as night falls, moviegoers are offered a series of varied works: comedies, dramas, historical films or documentaries. An opportunity to taste, under a starry sky, the great diversity of Italian cinematography and culture.
You can also discover new directors. Mario Vitale (not to be confused with the actor of the same name who played opposite Ingrid Bergman in Stromboli>) presents his first film,L’afide e la formica, which tackles the difficult search for identity of a 16-year-old teenager born in Calabria to Muslim parents. More established filmmakers are also on the program, including Roberto Andò and his latest feature film,Il bambino nascostowhich immerse us in the alleys of the old town of Naples to follow a solitary piano teacher who takes under his wing the son of a Camorrist.
From July 6 to August 31, 2022
Marco Calliari celebrates Saint Anthony of Padua
Every summer, the Little Italy neighborhood comes alive to honor the patron saint of the poor and downtrodden. The traditional procession, which follows the mass celebrated in the Notre-Dame-de-la-Défense church, the emblematic Italian church of Montreal, is always a moment eagerly awaited by the faithful who have come to commemorate Saint-Antoine de Padoue.
The festivities continue at the end of the day, near Dante Park, with a happy barbecue and a beautiful musical evening. Marco Calliari is particularly expected to perform some of the classics from his repertoire of Italian songs. Passed by heavy metal before converting to the musical folklore of his ancestors in northern Italy, the Quebec performer of Che la vita never misses an opportunity to proudly sing its origins.
June 11 and 12, 2022
Abruzzo in the spotlight at Italfest
For his 29e edition, the Italian week of Montreal changes its name for ItalfestMTL, but the objective remains the same: to highlight the country of cappuccinos and Vespas through a rich range of events mixing music, art, fashion and gastronomy. This year, it is one of the wildest regions of Italy, the Abruzzo so dear to John Fante and Dean Martin, who find themselves on the front of the stage.
With a performance by Italian-born country singer Manny Blu, a fashion show and an outdoor performance of the Rossini classic, The Barber of Seville, ItalfestMTL promises to satisfy all tastes. A competition for the best dessert is even on the menu. Other activities are planned in Kirkland, LaSalle, Saint-Léonard and Laval. The Esplanade Tranquille, the new public square located in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, will join the party for the first time, the time of a screening with orchestra of the film by Giuseppe Tornatore, Cinema Paradiso, and a concert by the Italian-Canadian pop-opera trio Lyrico.
From August 5 to 20, 2022
A beer that smells of Italy
Since the opening of its first branch in 2014, Saint-Houblon has continued to grow. The company now has a vegetable farm, three restaurants in Montreal and a microbrewery based in Terrebonne. It is to the latter that we owe the Sapore Del Sole. With its pretty blonde color and lemon notes, this summer beer pays a refreshing tribute to Little Italy.
To celebrate the return of the Sapore Del Sole as it should be, the Piccola Festival is taking up residence on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, pedestrianized between Saint-Zotique and Jean-Talon streets. On the program: good food, family entertainment as well as diverse and varied musical shows, offered by Thaïs, La Bronze, Inus Aso, Filly & The Flops, Emma Beko and Marco Calliari.
From June 17 to 19, 2022
Italian cars at the party
A gourmet district par excellence, Little Italy is also the best place to enjoy the pleasure of admiring beautiful vintage and prestigious cars bearing the mark of the country that saw the birth of the Scuderia. The Montreal Italian Auto Festival is an unmissable event for fans of Ferraris and other Lamborghinis. This is also the time of year when Rue Dante features the highest concentration of Fiat 500s in the country. This mythical car has become, like the Vespa, the symbol of Italy in the 1960s, and by extension of the sweet life.
July 10, 2022