In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Italian Treccani Encyclopedia Institute, the Palazzo Traccani: Italian Culture for All exhibition has opened on the Bund, featuring over 100 rare books, digital images, and interactive displays that highlight the institute's century-long history.

The exhibition will see the global launch of the limited edition book La Moda Italiana, co-published by Shanghai Hantang Culture and Treccani, of which only 150 copies will be available.

The exhibition

If you are passionate about Italian culture and want to experience the beauty of Italy and its rich historical and cultural heritage on the Apennine Peninsula, this is one exhibition you definitely don't want to miss.

The exhibition spans the Classical period, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Modern, and Contemporary times, featuring a diverse range of exhibits while also showcasing the century-long cultural heritage and innovative spirit of the Treccani Encyclopedia Institute.

2025 marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. In commemoration, the Italian Treccani Encyclopedia Institute and Shanghai Hantang Culture Development Co signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Shanghai to become strategic partners.

The institute, founded in 1925, is the publisher of Italian Encyclopedia and focuses on academic research, cross-cultural communication, and international exchange. Shanghai Hantang Culture Development Co is committed to promoting Sino-foreign cultural exchange.

According to the newly signed MoU, in 2025, the two sides will collaborate to promote the international development of humanities, education, and academia, bringing many exquisite cultural gifts to the public.

Let's look at what they are offering:

Gift 1: The World Premiere of a Collector's Book — La Moda Italiana

A special surprise awaits visitors at the exhibition — a collectible book titled La Moda Italiana.

The book is distinct for its strong focus on Italian art and aesthetics, including Italian painting, opera, theater, music, and cinema. It explores the country's splendid cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship, showcasing the origins and evolution of Italian art.

The book is limited to only 150 copies. If you are interested in Italian aesthetics and fashion, this book is worth checking out.

Gift 2: China-Italian Study Tour — Expanding the global cross-cultural vision of Chinese and Italian youth

This year, Hantang Culture and Treccani jointly launched a Sino-Italian study tour program to promote cultural exchange between the youth of the two countries.

Through this program, Chinese youth will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the heart of Italian culture and engage with its core cultural aspects.

Participants will also have the chance to visit the headquarters of the Treccani Encyclopedia Institute — Palazzo Treccani, participate in various cultural workshops, and engage in face-to-face exchanges with Italian scholars and artists.

Hantang Culture also plans to invite many young Italians to Shanghai each year to discover the rich and unique aesthetics hidden in daily life and experience local Shanghai culture.

Gift 3: "Italian Excellence: Humanities, Art, Design" courses

A new project called the Youth STEAM Club will also be launched soon. This initiative strives to provide cross-cultural, interdisciplinary, innovative educational experiences for young people from China and Italy. It covers multiple academic fields and aims to offer more diverse learning opportunities.

If you go

Palazzo Treccani (1925-2025): Italian Culture for All

Through March 12

Location: Bund 33, No 33 East Zhongshan Road Number One, Huangpu district

Booking method: Reserve through the "Art Shanghai" WeChat mini program (free admission).

Source: Publicity department of the CPC Huangpu district committee