Today, June 22, 2026, the flag-raising ceremony of the Italian, Costa Rican, and Cotobrus flags took place on Móttola Boulevard.

We thank the Municipality of Cotobrus for making this event possible, which was attended by members of both the Costa Rican and Italian communities.

Through this ceremony, we were able to appreciate and reaffirm how San Vito has been a meeting place of cultures for more than seventy years. It is worth remembering that San Vito was founded on February 28, 1952, making it a unique place not only in Costa Rica but also in the world, where the legacy of Italian culture continues to evolve and be enriched through language, traditions, and gastronomy.

It is no coincidence that San Vito is the only place in the world where the teaching of the Italian language is compulsory in the main schools located in the district center.

Angelo Papili delivered the official speech, in which he recalled that “the union between Costa Rican and Italian cultures was fundamental to the success of the colony. While other colonization processes failed or led to the disappearance of entire communities, the San Vito colony succeeded in establishing a model of integration and coexistence that continues to provide a valuable historical lesson.”

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Italian community: Angelo Papili, Gino Mazzero, Antonio Convertino, Mrs. Betty Pirola, and her brother, Battista Pirola.