Wine as a cultural and spiritual symbol at the heart of a dialogue between religions, history, and identity
On Monday, May 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM, Palazzo Valentini in Rome will host the event “Divino Spirito: Historical, Religious, and Anthropological Itineraries”, promoted by Iter Vitis – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, in collaboration with the University of Rome Tor Vergata and with the participation of Roma Capitale.
Wine, long imbued with deep symbolic meanings, will take center stage in this interdisciplinary gathering, exploring its role across spiritual rituals, religious traditions, and cultural identities. The event aims to reflect on wine as a cultural and spiritual icon, capable of fostering dialogue among civilizations and faiths—bridging the sacred and the profane.
The event will open with institutional greetings from Sabrina Alfonsi, Councillor for Agriculture, Environment, and Waste Cycle of Roma Capitale, and Dario Nanni, President of the Jubilee Commission of Roma Capitale.
The program features distinguished voices from academia and religious institutions, including:
- Marcella Pisani (University of Rome Tor Vergata) – Dionysus, Wine, and the City
- Ernesto Di Renzo (University of Rome Tor Vergata) – Imagery and Imagination of Wine between the Sacred and the Profane
- Monsignor Vittorio Gepponi (Diocese of Perugia) – Wine in the Theology and Eucharistic Rituals of the Catholic Church
- David Palterer (Academy of the Arts of Drawing, Florence) – The Spiritual Meaning of the Kiddush Cup in Judaism
- Davide Rosso (Waldensian Cultural Centre Foundation) – From the Chalice to the Reformation: Faith and Exile in the 17th and 18th Centuries
- A representative of the Orthodox Church – The Chalice in the Byzantine Divine Liturgy: Iconography, Mysticism, and Communal Practice
The morning will conclude with a symbolic toast, affirming the message of unity and shared heritage that the initiative seeks to convey.
The session will be moderated by Emanuela Panke, President of Iter Vitis, who remarked:
“Wine is a thread that connects centuries and cultures—a unifying element that speaks of spirituality, memory, and human connection. With Divino Spirito, we aim to highlight its role as a shared cultural and identity-bearing heritage.”
Free entry subject to seat availability.
For more information: [email protected] – www.itervitis.eu
