Seborga 20 August: National Day

As per tradition, this year the Seborga National Day will be celebrated this Monday 20 August on the occasion of Sain Bernard, Patron of Seborga.
This is the program of the celebrations:

11:15 Holy Mass in Saint Martin Church.
16:00 Vespers and procession to the Saint Bernard Church.
From 20:00 Celebrations with music, food and historical parades.

The revenue of the event will be used for the restoration of the Church of Saint Martin.

News in Brief...

Seborga 25 August, starting at 21:30: Medieval Dinner in Piazza San Martino. The food will be served by waiters in traditional costume with live music.
The cost is 32 Euro per person. Booking is essential by phoning: 0184 22 38 59.

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The Seborgan Diplomatic Corps is mourning the sudden loss of the Vice Honorary Consul of Lyon (France), Jean-Claude Auvolat.
In a note issued on the 6 August by the Head of Cabinet, Mr André Triquet, HRH Prince Giorgio I expressed his sadeness of the news and his deep sympathy and condolences to the family.

Varase di Ventimiglia: The First Palio of the Principality of Seborga

On Saturday 25 August at the equestrian centre "Val Roya" in Varase di Ventimiglia, the first Palio (horse race) of the Principality of Seborga will take place.

Although the event will be of amateur quality with the participation of non professional riders and horses, it will be of an educational nature to promote the history and traditions of the equestrian world.

The race will be preceded by a ceremony similar to the famous Palio of Siena with traditional costumes, flags and banners.

The Contrade or city wards will receive the welcome by HRH Prince Giorgio I.

The winner of the race (the representative of the Contrada) will receive the Trophy of the Palio of the Principality of Seborga which it will keep until the next edition of the Palio.

The winning raider will receive a prize consisting of golden Luigini coins (the Seborga currency).

Living Among Different Faiths

Last June, in Rome, the Honorary Consulate of the Principality of Seborga in Castellarano (Italy) participated at a conference for the freedom of religion and dialogue among different faiths.

The event was organised by the journalist Magdi Allam, editor of “Il Corriere della Sera” and commentator on Arab and Islamic affairs.

Since then the Consulate has maintained contact with the organisers of the conference and has planned several projects aimed at promoting greater public awareness for a better understanding and mutual acceptance of various religions, so essential for a peaceful existence.

Among the initiatives planned there is a series of meetings aimed at discussing the foundations of Christianity (Catholicism and other confessions), Islamism, Buddhism, Hebraism and other religious faiths.

A few weeks after the event in Rome the Consul and the Consulate organised a meeting in Castellarano with an Evangelical group from Brighton (UK) and a Catholic group.

The purpose of the meeting was to promote a free exchange of ideas and understanding among the two groups.

“To come to know the stable facts about religions that are less familiar here, helps the dialogue; to separate the true from the false allows for a better understanding”.

The local press was particularly interested in the initiative and a local monthly publication has planned a special edition for September on the activities of the Consulate.