The 58th iteration of Italy's Taormina Festival wrapped on Thursday (June 28) with the Tao Arte award going to Italian cinema icon, Sophia Loren.
"I am very honored to win this wonderful award," she said, according to the Hollywood Reporter, after accepting the lifetime achievement prize. "But this soccer game is really taking my breath away."
The soccer game she mentioned was the Italian men's team advancing to the Euro cup championship semi-finals against Germany.
Yet, the fest nearly did not go off owed to a host of technical and logistical problems.
"We are happy to be here, happy the festival is here, and eager to work hard to make sure Taormina keeps its place among Italy's top festivals in the future," Taormina mayor Mauro Passalacqua said in a briefing Thursday.
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