Visit to Italy

On February 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev came on an official visit to the Italian Republic.

At the Fiumicino International Airport in Rome, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were welcomed by head of the State Protocol Department of the Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry Inigo Lambertini, ambassador of this country to Azerbaijan Augusto Massari, and other officials.

Visit to the monument of Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi in Rome

On February 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid a visit to the monument erected to great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi in famous Villa Borghese Park in Rome.

President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva laid bunches of flowers before the monument.

Official welcoming ceremony in Rome

On a state visit to the Italian Republic, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was officially welcomed in Rome, February 20.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were welcomed by Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were photographed with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella.

Acquaintance with the Quirinale Palace

On February 20, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva became acquainted with the Quirinale Palace in Rome, in the framework of the state visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Italy.

Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva walked about the halls of the Quirinale Palace, viewing exhibits being displayed here. Mehriban Aliyeva was given information about the history of the Quirinale Palace, and valuable items being preserved here, including paintings, frescoes and mosaics.

A visit to the Unknown Warrior’s monument

On a state visit to the Italian Republic, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited, February 20, the Unknown Warrior’s monument in the memorial complex “Altare della Patria” in Rome.

Official dinner in honour of the Azerbaijani President in Rome

On February 20, an official dinner was hosted in the Quirinale Palace in Rome on behalf of Italian President Sergio Mattarella in honour of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the official dinner.

Before the dinner, gifts were exchanged.

Members of the Azerbaijani and Italian delegations were presented to heads of the states Ilham Aliyev and Sergio Mattarella, Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and daughter of the Italian President Laura Mattarella.

The heads of the states addressed the dinner party.

A concert programme on the occasion of inaugurating the Year of Azerbaijani Culture in Italy

On February 20, a concert programme was arranged on the occasion of inaugurating the “2020 – The Year of Azerbaijani Culture in Italy” in the Quirinale Palace in Rome.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella attended the concert.

Familiarization with the building intended for the Azerbaijani Culture Centre in Rome

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva became familiar with the building intended for the Azerbaijani Culture Centre in Rome, February 21.

While becoming acquainted with the building, the President and the First Lady were informed that provisions were made for creating here versatile conditions for the activities of the Azerbaijani Culture Centre, as well as for the Azerbaijani Embassy.

Official ceremony of seeing off President Ilham Aliyev in Rome

Official ceremony of seeing off President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who was on a state visit to Italian Republic, took place in Rome, February 21.

President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella saw off President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

Meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Vatican, February 22.

Official welcoming ceremony was held for President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in Vatican.

Then, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then met with head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Meeting with State Secretary of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin in Vatican

On February 22, within the framework of the state visit to Vatican, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with State Secretary of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin in Vatican.

Then Cardinal Pietro Parolin presented the Order of Pius IX (Dama di Gran Croce dell’ordine Piano), the highest degree of the Pontifical Order of Knighthood – Knights Grand Cross - to First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.

First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva has been decorated with this order for her contribution to the development of culture, including mutual relations with institutions of the Holy See.

Acquaintance with the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican

On February 22, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva became acquainted with the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican.

19-22 February 2020