Corriere di Tunisi Celebrates 70th Anniversary
The only Italian-language newspaper in all of North Africa, Corriere di Tunisi, is celebrating its 70th anniversary from May 21 to 23 at the Sainte-Croix cultural space in the medina of Tunis. In an interview with RTCI on May 13, 2026, Silvia Finzi, the publication's director, looks back on the unique history of this title and presents a rich program: roundtable discussion, exhibitions, film screening, concert, literary award, and book presentation.
A History Spanning Over Two Centuries
Silvia Finzi dates back to the years 1829-1830, when a small printing press on Rue de la Commission (now Rue Garibaldi) was already publishing the first Italian-language newspapers. The name of Corriere itself draws from this historical depth: a title with the same name existed as far back as 1869, only to disappear in 1881 with the establishment of the protectorate. It was this name that the founders chose to revive in 1956, as a symbolic reference to a sovereign Tunisia.
A Link to Identity for a Community
The director recalls that between 1838 and 1956, Tunisia was home to a thriving Italian press serving a community of approximately 200,000 people. The extinction of this press in the 1940s, combined with the closure of Italian schools, created a deep void. Corriere di Tunisi came to fill this gap, allowing each individual to reconnect with their language and memory while maintaining a cultural and emotional connection with Tunisia. It also served as a valuable link for emigrants.
A Shared Culture Across the Mediterranean
Since the 1960s, Italian television has sparked enthusiasm for the Italian language among Tunisians. In the 1980s, the establishment of an Italian studies program at the university further expanded the readership. Today, the title, now a monthly publication of 48 color pages, has successfully brought together these diverse audiences. Its current subtitle, Corriere del Mediterraneo, reflects its ambition to share a culture across the two shores.
Three Days of Celebrations
The entire event is under the patronage of the Italian Embassy, with free admission.
On May 21, a roundtable discussion will bring together Italian-language journalists to debate the future of a periodical published outside of Italy. This will be followed by two documentary exhibitions: one on the history of Corriere di Tunisi since 1956, and the other on Italian-Tunisian relations, prepared by the National Archives. The evening will conclude with the screening of a documentary by Aïda Schemar, featuring exclusive testimonies, including those of Daniel Passalacqua, a musical collaborator for over sixty years, and Silvia Finzi's mother, who dedicated her life to the publication after the death of her husband, one of the title's founders.
On May 22, a conference will trace the evolution of Corriere di Tunisi from 1956 to the present in three chronological sequences, with a particular focus on its pedagogical dimension. The day will conclude with a concert in tribute to composer Francesco Santoliquido, who laid the foundations for the Tunis Conservatory of Music in the 1920-1930s: a pianist and violinist will perform his rediscovered compositions.
On May 23, the results of a literary competition will be announced. Silvia Finzi notes that more than half of the submitted works were written by Tunisian Italians, with the winning texts to be published. The day will also feature the presentation of Luca Bianchini's novel, Le ragazze di Tunis, published in February by Mondadori, whose mother is from Tunisia. Constructed after extensive research in local archives, this work has not yet been translated into French. Silvia Finzi also announces that a special edition of Corriere di Tunisi will be distributed to participants from May 21, with a surprise that she refuses to reveal.
