Italy's approximately 1.7 million Muslims will on Saturday begin the holy fasting month of Ramadan, one of the pillars of Islam which is also dedicated to prayer, purification and charitable acts.
Rome's Grand Mosque and Cultural Centre said in a statement it would be organising a series of cultural and religious events during Ramadan, including evening prayers and the traditional Iftar evening meal when Muslims break their daytime fast.
Ritual fasting is an obligation for every Muslim who has reached puberty, unless they are pregnant, menstruating or suffer from a medical condition.
Ramadan is the name of the ninth month in the Muslim calendar, which operates on a lunar system, particularly the crescent moon.
The Eid-Fitr holiday marks the end of Ramadan, which in Italy is on Sunday 25 June.
