“Ciao Philadelphia”: a month of celebrating Italy is an initiative that features more than 30 cultural events (a full list on ciaophiladelphia.com ) open to the public, organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia. From music to art, from science to the Italian race cars , the cultural festival Ciao Philadelphia  addressed a city that houses one of the most extensive and well established Italian-American communities . The initiative is organized during the Columbus Day festivities, so dear to the community. Italian and Italian-American communities have been involved in the organization of the events, along with the most prestigious institutions in the region , including the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts ( the first American academy of fine arts ) , the University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League University founded by Benjamin Franklin) , Temple, Drexel , St. Joseph’s and Villanova University , the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and the Opera of Philadelphia . The purpose of the initiative is to bring together Italians , Italian-Americans and friends of Italy to emphasize , through the sharing of high-profile initiatives , the importance of the contribution of Italian culture in Philadelphia.