THE SPECIAL CEREMONY HONORING ITALIAN ACTRESS MONICA BELLUCCI HELD AT THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM IN ATHENS, GREECE.

Italian film actress Monica Bellucci went to Greece for her theatrical debut as the iconic Greek opera star Maria Callas in a production inspired by the late diva’s letters, memoirs, photographs and other memorabilia. “Maria Callas: Letters & Memories” is directed by the writer, director and producer Tom Volf and based on his book and film “Maria by Callas.” It premiered in Paris in November 2020 and in September 2021 it went to one of the most ancient theatres of the world, Athens’ Herod Atticus Theater for three nights only on September 21, 22 and 23. The performances were sold out.

After the final performance the Italian group of wineries Fantinel and Ms. Ada Iliopoulou (Fantinel Greece) had the honor of organizing a beautiful dinner reception at the Acropolis Museum for Ms. Bellucci and over 100 Greek luminaries and celebrities.

Following her much-discussed and dazzling performance, Ms. Bellucci arrived at the ceremony and was greeted by the director of The Acropolis Museum, Mr Nikos Stambolidis.  Mr. Stambolidis gave the star and director Tom Volf a tour of the museum.  They then arrived at the dinner party where they were joined by the who’s who of Athenian society.

The ceremony started with a cocktail called “Casta Diva Monica” inspired by Ms. Bellucci’s tour de force performance and by the celebrated Prosecco “One & Only”. Live piano music, including songs by famed Greek composers and a compilation of songs dedicated to Ms. Bellucci, entertained the guests.

The menu was created by famed chef Filipos Dimopoulos. Dinner commenced with a smoked salmon mousse accompanied by botargo. The first course was a modern take on traditional Greek ''Dakos'' with strawberries, tomato tartare, fresh myzithra cheese on a bed of carob crumble and micro leaves salad. The main course featured a whole baked veal tagliata fillet, baby vegetables, celery cream and red wine sauce with green peppers and hibiscus. Dessert was a Katayif phyllo pastry filled with mastic cream, “loukoumi” rose ice cream and sour cherry and rose petals spoon sweets. Prize-winning Italian wines by Fantinel accompanied the dinner including: Borgo Tesis by Fantinel Pino Grigio, Sun Goddess by Mary J.Blige & Marco Fantinel (a popular choice in Greece),  the Pinot Grigio Ramato and the Refosco La Roncaia.

The famous guests at the event included: the President of Piraeus Marine Club and Deputy Mayor for Culture at Piraeus Ms. Irene Daifas, Konstantinos Spanos (CEO of Spanos Construction & Fantinel Greece), CEO of Spanos S.A. for BMW and proud sponsor of the events, Maria Spanos, Marketing Director of Spanos SA for BMW, George Spanos, CEO of BMW HELLAS Andreas Sieben, Kallirroy Danalis-Apostolopoulos and Vassilis Apostolopoulos- CEO of   Athens Medical Group and proud sponsor of the events, George D. Melissanidis ( chairman of  Aegean Shipping) and Sissy Konstantinidou, Katerina Panagopoulos-Ambassador of Greece to the Council of Europe on Sport, Tolerance and Fair Play and President of the Hellenic Athletic Women’s Association “Kallipateira”, the diamond heiress and Hollywood actress Zeta Graff (who came to Athens from Los Angeles especially for the ceremony), member of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili and her sister Magdalena, Marina Vernicos, Makis Kasnakidis & Marilia Vazaiou, the actor Manos Gavras (from the film, “The Man of God”), the actress María Nafpliotou and the famous publisher Victor Patakis, Andreas Psycharis, Fotis Kokotos (member of the board for Elounda SA Hotels and Resorts, SETE, Marketing Greece ), Evelina  Kokotos, the designer Orsalia Parthenis, actor and TV host Fotis Sergoulopoulos, etc..

Winelife.gr (Fantinel-Sun Goddess) in Greece they belong to Ms Ada Iliopoulou who is President and owner of Le Soleil Foundation that makes co-production to big performances and events.