Who we are

The Portland Bologna Sister City Association is an active organization that hosts and co-hosts many events throughout the year. In recent years, we have hosted our youth exchange to and from Bologna, Italian cyclists, our Amici dinner, our annual Sagra fundraiser, wine tastings and more. As an official Sister City, we also are part of the Portland Rose Festival activities including the Grand Floral Parade which happens 2nd weekend of June every year.

Summer 2026 Youth Exchange Cohort in Bologna!

THe 2026 Cohort left on June 15th for a two week adventure in Bologna

2026 PBSCA Youth Exchange visiting neptune’s fountain

The 2026 Youth Exchange Cohort were greeted by the royal rosarians on June 30th at PDX

From June 15 - 30th the 2026 Youth Exchange cohort toured Bologna and the surrounding region of Emilia- Romagna. They stayed with host families and connected with Italian youth their age who will be visiting Portland in the Summer 2027. Upon their return, they were greeted by the Royal Rosarians, with many staying to continue independent trips with their families. We thank everyone who continue to allow the PBSCA Youth Exchange Program to thrive! If you would like to support future Youth Exchange trips you can do so by participating in our annual Sagra fundraising dinner and auction each October (2026 details to come) or donate here and listing ‘YE’ in the description box of the payment platform.

Amici Dinner 2026 Recap

Photo by Lawson D’Ambrosio, pBSCA Secretary

For Amici Dinner 2026 we held this special dinner event in Gumba’s new space! We were treated to a full-course meal with carefully selected wine pairings and impeccable service. Our annual Amici Dinner is a time to thank all of our supporters over good food and better company. Stay tuned for details of next year’s Amici Dinner.

Photo credit to Lawson D’Ambrosio, PBSCA Secretary.

PBSCA attends Mayor Lepore’s Dinner

From left to RIght: Sally Hudson, Phil Potestio (PBSCA President), Joanne Maloney, and Peggy Kidney attend Mayor Lepore’s Dinner on April 22, 2026

Over 800 people attended Bologna Mayor, Matteo Lepore’s dinner in the Quartiere Savena. Mayor Lepore talked Portland Bologna members about his most recent visit to the United States, specifically to the City of Minneapolis, MN.

PBSCA President’s 2025 Letter

We invite you to pause and reflect on the moments that have defined us. Our President, Phil Potestio, has penned a heartfelt End-of-Year Letter, encapsulating the achievements, and the lessons learned throughout this transformative year.

Read Here

Royal Rosarian Rose Planting in Bolgona!

The Royal Rosarians traveled to Bologna, Italy this month to kick off their 2026 Prime Minister Trip! This special rose planting occured on Friday, October 17th at 10 AM at the Louis Braille Garden Area, Via delle Borre, to commemorate PBSCA’s 20th Anniversary in honor of Maria Rose Martelli Brekke, La Donna di Bologna or ‘the woman of Bologna’. PBSCA has a Cibo e Amici Fund established in her honor and we are truly grateful to be able to commemorate her through this unique rose planting ceremony.

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW “CIBO E AMICI” FUND, IN HONOR OF MARIA ROSA MARTELLI BREKKE

Portland’s thriving Italian-American community - and our own PBSCA - owes a debt of gratitude to this inimitable woman, who was born in Bologna and made Portland her home. Affectionately known as la donna di Bologna, her warm smile and talent as a home chef helped so many of us to feel connected to each other and to the world around us through her food and her love of Italian culture.

In her honor and thanks to a generous seed gift, the Maria Rosa Martelli Brekke Cibo e Amici Fund was launched earlier this year. With this fund, PBSCA is creating a series of educational events to help us better understand and celebrate the power of Italy’s food culture, specifically that of the Emilia Romagna region, to bring us closer together. We kicked off in April with our first Virtual Taste of Bologna event featuring Chef Giorgia Lambertini, and we hope you can join us on June 8 for our Amici dinner. Ideas welcome!

We invite you to read our 2006 interview with Maria Rosa and to make a contribution to help this grow faster. (If you are giving online, please also send us an email to let us know that we should direct this!)