Italy opened the Milan Expo 2015 on Friday in hopes of showcasing global food, culture and technology despite ongoing national protests.
.@FTriulza starts its #Expo2015 with a multiethnic parade! pic.twitter.com/qG02VRMONA
— Expo Milano 2015 (@Expo2015Milano) 1 мая 2015
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the event will be a test for the future of Italy after years of stagnation and recession.
Cultural events, futuristic architecture, a "supermarket of the future" and dozens of restaurants fill the site. More than 140 countries are taking part, with 54 national pavilions. China, an increasing presence in Italy after a string of high-profile business acquisitions, is particularly well-represented.
But the Expo, where the theme is sustainable food production, has already faced a corruption investigation that saw several top officials in the organizing group arrested, cost overruns, and construction delays that meant large parts of the site were not ready for opening day.
The anti-Expo campaigners see the event as a showcase of waste and corruption. Pope Francis referred to the irony of a global mega-spectacle keen on promoting sustainable development and feeding the poor.
Cultural events, futuristic architecture, a "supermarket of the future" and dozens of restaurants fill the site. More than 140 countries are taking part, with 54 national pavilions. China, an increasing presence in Italy after a string of high-profile business acquisitions, is particularly well-represented.
