Celano and Ovindoli, two mountain towns in the Abruzzo region of Italy, which have twinning projects with Zejtun and Tarxien respectively, are participating in the Amitex fair.

Hotel owners from these areas, located between Rome and L'Aquila, and a councillor from Celano are in Malta to promote tourism exchanges between Maltese and Italians.

The twinning projects had been in the pipeline since 1999 and were sealed in August last year, Zejtun mayor Joe Attard said.

The connection between Zejtun and Celano dates back some 800 years to the time of Federico II when inhabitants of the Italian town were deported to Malta in 1223 and settled there.

Some returned, but other families stayed on and, as a result, the two towns share some common surnames, cook rabbit in the same way and have similar bread.

A delegation from Celano is attending the Zejtun feast in June, while a Maltese group will go on a familiarisation visit to its twin town in August; youth exchanges have already been organised.

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