During a conference held at the University of Bologna between May 27 and 29, the first ever translation into Maltese of a book written by Umberto Eco has been included in the collection of volumes bequeathed to the University of Bologna Library by the late renowned Italian writer.

The conference entitled 'Umberto Eco, the University of Bologna and all the knowledge in the World' celebrating the world famous writer was attended by Prof Clare Vassallo - herself a former university student of Umberto Eco - and was representing the University of Malta. Besides giving her valid academic contribution to the conference Professor Vassallo also met Carlotta Eco, the daughter of the author commemorated in the same conference and presented her with copies of Isem il-Warda (Klabb Kotba Maltin;2025), the Maltese translation done by Adrian Stivala of Eco's Il Nome della Rosa.

This book will from now on be one of the few books in Maltese forming part of the Bologna University Library and definitely the only one within the vast collection of books formerly forming part of Umberto Eco's private library, now merged with the other volumes at the prestigious university library. The presentation took place in a very cordial informal atmosphere and was well received by Carlotta Eco, who took an active part in the conference and expressed her appreciation of the book.

This event had to wait years to take place as Umberto Eco's stated in his final will that he would not be celebrated before ten years would have passed from his passing, which took place in February 2016. This is certainly a great honour and privilege for Maltese publishing in general and an even greater honour for translators into Maltese of books from any language who continue to build unifying bridges between different cultures and literatures.