Casa Italia is making its debut today at the eighth instalment of the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival, which will run until November 24 at the Katara Beach, Italian ambassador Pasquale Salzano has said. For the first time in Qatar, the ambassador said Italy is proud to showcase maritime traditions from its world-renowned tourist destinations. 
He said Italian artisans are in Doha to demonstrate skills in making different handicrafts, including sandals from Capri, a symbol of the Dolce Vita donned by Jackie Kennedy and other Hollywood stars.
Casa Italia or “Italian home” will also pay tribute to the ancient trades of former Italian seaside villages, which are popular tourism destinations today. Salzano said a fisherman from Sorrento, who hails from a family that makes fishing nets using centuries-old technique, will be present during the event.
The ambassador added: “We certainly treasure these assets based on know-how and human capacities as machinery cannot replace manual skills, creativity and genius,” said Salzano, who added that Italian handcrafted products serve as the pillars of the ‘Made in Italy’ brand and remains to be the country’s “unrivalled global asset”.
“Even though the economy of both countries is now based on new resources, the fishermen’s nets of Sorrento – as those of Qatar – are still made with the same ancient techniques and passion.
“From Capri to Sorrento, from Taormina to Doha, once upon a time, the fishermen’s lifestyle shared common patterns, with the men being out at sea for months, while the women tried to make a living by handcrafting artisanal products, waiting for them to come back,” Salzano pointed out.
The ambassador also said festival-goers will see gondolas from Venice near Casa Italia with a ‘gondolieri’ donning the traditional striped attire. Also, Italian musicians will serenade visitors with popular Italian pieces, while chefs from the best Italian restaurants in Doha will prepare and serve an array of delicacies at the festival, Salzano continued.
The five-day Katara Traditional Dhow Festival will feature local, regional, and international participants, including Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey, India, Greece, Italy, and Zanzibar, among others. The festival also features a wide range of cultural events, sea contests, and traditional shows, as well as a combination of fireworks display and laser show, according to Katara. 
In a statement, Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti said this year’s edition “stands apart in terms of the number of participants, diversity of the competitions and related activities, the space allocated for the festival, and the expected number of visitors.”
Al-Sulaiti noted that since its inception, the annual event has grown popular, attracting many participants from a number of friendly countries and organising various traditional marine competitions, which highlight Qatar’s rich heritage.