(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 21 - The central part of the 18th edition of the 'Dolce Vitaj - Italian Festival' began in Slovakia in May, a much-anticipated event designed to promote Italian culture and lifestyle, with the word "vitaj" meaning "welcome" in Slovak. The festival, organised by the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Bratislava in collaboration with the Italian-Slovak Chamber of Commerce, will run until June 26 with events in Bratislava, Zilina, and Trencin. Among the initiatives on the agenda are an exhibition dedicated to Italo Calvino, one dedicated to the 'Vespa. A Legend of Made in Italy', a film festival featuring some of Ferzan Ozpetek's main films, a concert by singer and pianist Frida Bollani Magoni, and literary meetings, including one with Rosella Postorino, who presents the Slovak release of "Mi limitavo ad amare te," a novel that was a finalist for the 2023 Strega Prize. (ANSA).