The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria on 17-18 April.  President Mattarella was welcomed by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev at a ceremony held at Aleksandar Nevski Square, where the two Presidents reviewed the guard of honour and paid homage to the fallen soldiers. After the ceremony, President Mattarella went to the Presidential Palace, where he held talks with President Radev, during which the two Presidents discussed the main bilateral, European and international dossiers. At the end of the talks, the two Presidents made statements to the press. 

President Mattarella subsequently met with the staff of the Italian Embassy, the Institute of Culture, the ICE Agency in Sofia and Confindustria Bulgaria. Mr. Plamen Dilkov, Executive Director of BULGARIA ENGINEERING EAD, attended as its Vice President.

The following day, on 18 April, President Mattarella and President Radev went to the Novo Selo military base to visit the NATO Multinational Battlegroup, led by Italy. In conclusion, President Mattarella met with the soldiers of the Italian contingent.