There are places that become special not because of the walls, but because of the stories they can accommodate. Once again this year, between May and June, the cloister of the Carmine Church in Milan was transformed into a small open-air world. A world made of flavors, colors, dances, voices and hugs. A world where everyone was able to feel at home, even if they came from far away.

Il Mondo in Casa has reached its ninth edition and, never more than this year, reminded us that encounter is not only possible, but necessary. Six evenings, six journeys, six ways to say one thing: welcome.

We opened the dances on May 9 with an evening of comebacks: Argentina, Japan, Bulgaria and Tunisia brought us back to the excitement of past editions – between origami, zaghrouta narrated by the Tawassel Association, Bulgarian dances by the Bulgarian Association for Cultural Exchange and the mate shared, we realized that you don’t need to speak the same language to feel close.

Then, on May 16, it was the turn of Nigeria. A vibrant and energetic evening, coordinated by A Coded World, told us about the country through an exhibition of traditional art by the Museum of Art and Science, fragrant cuisine, and music afrobeat by DJ C.ZAR, who made even those who swore they would not move a foot dance.

With Cuba, on May 23, we were carried away by the rhythm and poetry of the island. Thanks to the CubEArt APS Association, which coordinated the evening, and the Consulate of the Republic of Cuba in Milan, we admired the art of Kasay Herrera Calle and enjoyed a dinner with typical dishes prepared and presented by the Siboney Association and CONACI. Music then filled the cloister thanks to the musical trio composed by Juan Bautista Romero, Egidio Basile and Roberto Toledano, and the intense voice of singer Olga Hiralda Martinez. The dance rhythm came with the energy of dancers Irma de la Caridad Castillo Ruiz and Ulises Ezequiel Moras Valina.

The June 6, with Poland, we entered a world of delicate melodies, fine art and flavors that taste of childhood. Thanks to the Association of Poles in Milan, which coordinated the evening, we immersed ourselves in a country that strongly cherishes memory and transforms it into the future. We traveled through the shots of photographer Tomasz Jarnicki, discovered ancient traditions, tasted traditional dishes and admired the costumes and dances of the Lajkonik Padewski group.

And then, on June 13, came theIran: an evening suspended between enchantment and encounter. The Maana Association, which coordinated the evening, took us on a journey to the Persia of scents, colors and art through rituals and dances. Taher Nikkhah Abyaneh’s poetic works, fine handicrafts, dishes from Samarkand Restaurant and songs performed on traditional instruments by the RIMA group catapulted us into a culture rich in history and charm.

This culminated in the final evening on June 20.: a big party under the stars, with a convivial aperitif, songs proposed by the students of the Italian course, folk dances by the Folklor de Colombia group, intercultural activities by the Remix group, and… a lot of desire to simply be together.

In a time marked by wars, fears and ever-rising walls, The World at Home reminds us that there is another way of being in the world: that of listening, meeting, and peace. Here, every dish shared, every dance done together, every word exchanged becomes a small gesture of resistance to hatred and indifference.

Because meeting is already an act of trust. And cultivating mutual knowledge is perhaps the first step in building a different future. Building bridges of friendship between cultures in ever new ways-as the mediators of the Friends of FAI have taught us-means using the channel of art, too, every night to create bonds of knowledge and understanding.

Il Mondo in Casa is much more than a review. It is a collective embrace, a celebration of encounter, a project that grows every year together with those who live it, organize it, dream it. It is a confirmation that the other is not an “elsewhere,” but an opportunity. That any culture can flourish far from home if it finds a welcoming space. And that beauty is multiplied when it is shared.

Thank you to those who participated, those who cooked, danced, told, organized. Thank you to those who came out of curiosity and left with a new story in their hearts. Thanks to those who believe that Milan can truly be a home for all.

The World at Home will return in 2026 for its 10th edition. Like a flower that blooms once a year. And we will be here to welcome it. Together, once again.