NO world records were set, but Wangaratta’s Viva Italia festival will still go down in history for being “magnifico” at the weekend.
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More than 3000 people attended the inaugural event which celebrated the rich Italian culture and heritage across the North East.
Eleanor Caligiuri and Assunta Colbertado, who both moved to Wangaratta from Italy, said yesterday’s activities in Apex Park took them back to life in their home country.
“It has everything from our tradition 50 or 60 years ago,” Ms Colbertado said.
The festival included a display of Alfa Romeo and Ferrari cars, spaghetti eating, gondola races, bocce and more modest versions of Michelangelo, the Trevi Fountain and Leaning Tower of Pisa.
There was also a world record attempt for the most accordions being played at any one time.
The weekend’s effort of just over 200 people playing O Sole Mio fell well short of the record 989, but was no great disappointment to those such as Sydney’s Brian Lewis.
“This is the lifestyle we had many years ago, and it’s nice to see it is being encouraged again,” he said.
