ITALY-EXPO Milan Expo flaunts its visual and gastronomical assets ahead of First Lady's visit

Record ID: 151644

  • Title: ITALY-EXPO Milan Expo flaunts its visual and gastronomical assets ahead of First Lady's visit
  • Date: 17th June 2015
  • Summary: WOMAN WATCHING PERFORMANCE BEHIND FENCE, PEOPLE WALKING PAST VARIOUS OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PERFORMANCE "ALLAVITA!" CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXPO
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVARQ05IOCE39831I19E0BRQTN2
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A month and a half into its six-month tenure, the Milan Expo is in full swing.
    Intended as a celebration of Milan's openness to the world and an exploration of new approaches to sustainable food, the exhibition which opened on May 1 is drawing visitors from all walks of life, from every corner of the world.
    Cultural events, futuristic architecture, a "supermarket of the future" and dozens of restaurants fill the site, which required more than 1 million square metres (250 acres) of farmland on the outskirts of Milan to be concreted over.
    Among the eye-catching architectural displays, visitors can marvel at exhibits on "feeding the planet" with plant samples and technology, while dozens of restaurants offer a taste of various national cuisine.
    In all, more than 140 countries are taking part.
    Innovation and interactive features are key for many of the pavilions to attract visitors and to explore nutrition-related issues.
    A long suspended mesh net leading to the Brazil pavilion symbolises the strength that a network of individuals, authorities and topics have in making the country a world leader in food production.
    The Thailand pavilion like its Kazakhstan and Belgium counterparts, relies on entertaining guests with live performances.
    Officials are counting on some 20 million visitors to the six month-long exhibition of products and technologies from around the world. They hope it will bring in 10 billion euros ($10.75 billion), half of it from foreign visitors.
    Joan Dana from the United States, who was visiting with her children, said she believed in the event's educational value.
    "I think it's a very important theme and it's a very important issue for Italy, for the U.S. and for the entire world. Where we get our food is going to be critically important in the future and it's time for people to start becoming aware," she said.
    Her daughter Naomi certainly was enjoying herself.
    "Hi! I'm Naomi and I've been having a good day," she said.
    Martina Bertinelli from La Spezia on the west coast of Italy said the long distances between the pavilions and the summer heat were the main challenges for the visitors.
    "There is a lot of walking to do but I have no problem with walking despite my 70 years of age. I like it very much here, it's just too hot," she said, adding she had already booked a ticket for another visit.
    Many visitors, like Fabio Mani from Bologna, said they were hoping to experience the cultures and cuisines of far away countries that they may never get a chance to visit in person.
    "I've taken a quick initial look around and I'm focusing on the places that are more difficult for me to see like Angola and Brazil which are countries that are far away. I'm hoping to find something to eat, I've not eaten anything yet so I'm looking for a place where to eat something and to try out something typical to other cuisine," he said.
    Leaders and representatives of several countries are due to visit the Expo throughout the summer. While Russian President Vladimir Putin toured the site last week, this week British Prime Minister David Cameron, U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and French President Francois Hollande are scheduled to pay a visit.
    For those wishing to get everything out of their visit, entertainment at the site continues after night fall.
    Cirque du Soleil has created an exclusive performance for the Expo. The show, titled "ALLAVITA!", is structured in 14 scenes and tells the story of Leonardo, a boy who witnesses the appearance of an imaginary friend from a seed given to him by his grandmother. With his new friend, Leonardo embarks on a journey of courage, hope and wonder.
    The show, which comes with an additional cost, is scheduled to run through August 30 at the site's San Carlo Open Air Theatre.
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