Vitorchiano and Rapa Nui to strengthen cultural ties via Moai ceremony

A delegation from the Rapa Nui community of Easter Island is scheduled to visit Vitorchiano on August 26, 2026, to strengthen cultural ties between the two regions. The visit is part of the “Hakamahana Matou Arinja Ora” project, which aims to consolidate human and cultural connections through potential annual events focused on music, art, and Rapa Nui traditions.

The visit centers on the Moai statue located at the Vitorchiano lookout, which was created in 1990 by a group of indigenous sculptors led by Pedro Atan Pakomio. For the Rapa Nui people, the statue serves as a symbol of identity, memory, and spirituality. The delegation will participate in institutional meetings with the local administration and a traditional ceremony at the Moai site.

The initiative was proposed by Enzo Moglia, the Italian consular correspondent in Rapa Nui, and Lenky Atan Hito, the niece of sculptor Pedro Atan Pakomio. Vitorchiano Mayor Ruggero Grassotti expressed support for establishing a stable and lasting institutional collaboration.