The President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, visited the Greek-speaking villages of Apulia, in the Salento region of southern Italy, on Saturday.
Sakellaropoulou was accompanied by Greek Culture and Sports Minister, Lina Mendoni, and they were both greeted with songs in the local Griko dialect and traditional dances.
In a speech, the Greek President highlighted the Greek roots of the local residents and celebrated the “brotherly bonds” with Greece.
Sakellaropoulou also visited the villages of Castrignano dei Greci, Carpignano Salentino, Melpignano, Zollino, Calimera, Martignano and Sternatia.
The President was attending festivities marking the 20th anniversary of the Union of Communities of Grecia Salentina’s foundation after an invitation by the President of the Union, Roberto Casaluci.
“The Union’s effort to preserve the Griko language dialect and its cultural richness deserves our support,” Sakellaropoulou said on Twitter after her visit.
Source: Ekathimerini.
