by InTrieste
Villa Manin, a historic 18th-century estate in northeastern Italy, played host Saturday night to Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, as Friuli Venezia Giulia officially kicked off its summer concert season with a sold-out performance.
The event marked the first major international concert in the “GO!2025 & Friends” series—a cultural initiative tied to the cross-border European Capital of Culture program set to culminate in 2025. Organizers and regional officials say the concert series is designed to strengthen the cultural and tourism profile of the region, which borders Slovenia and Austria.
“It’s a significant choice to open the season with an iconic performer for an entire generation,” said Mario Anzil, the region’s Vice Governor and Cultural Affairs Commissioner, speaking minutes before the show began. “Bringing an international artist like Alanis Morissette to Villa Manin means offering the public a world-class musical event while also reinforcing the cultural and touristic mission of our region.”
The concert drew more than 9,000 fans, with tickets selling out within days, according to regional authorities. Many attendees traveled from beyond the region—coming from neighboring Veneto, Slovenia, and Austria—highlighting what officials describe as a growing market for high-quality cultural tourism.
“Morissette resonates strongly with Generation X,” Anzil added, noting her enduring popularity and wide cross-border appeal. “She represents a kind of shared cultural memory for a generation, which makes her a natural choice for an event like this.”
Set against the backdrop of Villa Manin’s Baroque architecture, the concert took place in the estate’s expansive gardens, which Anzil described as “a cultural agora”—a space that lends itself to concerts, exhibitions, and educational programs alike.
The summer season at Villa Manin is expected to continue with performances by other international acts, as Friuli Venezia Giulia positions itself as a cultural destination in the lead-up to 2025.
