Andrea Trinchieri – Italian Coach Leading Lithuania’s Legendary Basketball Team
Andrea Trinchieri, a seasoned EuroLeague veteran, has become one of the most prominent Italians in Lithuania as the head coach of Kaunas "Žalgiris," the nation’s most celebrated basketball club. With 92 wins and 119 losses across eight EuroLeague seasons coaching teams like Cantù "Bennet," Bamberg "Brose," and Munich "Bayern," Trinchieri brings a wealth of experience to Lithuania's basketball scene.
A. Trinchieri
"Coaching in Lithuania, Italy, Germany, or Serbia is like painting on the same canvas with different colors," Trinchieri reflects. He embraces the unique challenges of working in Lithuania, a proud nation of just three million people with an unyielding passion for basketball.
Andrea’s leadership and fresh perspective continue to inspire "Žalgiris" fans as he guides the team in their EuroLeague journey.
In addition to his coaching, Trinchieri shares his thoughts on the Lithuanian people: "I constantly try to encourage Lithuanians to communicate more. But I don’t know if you are just shy, or if you’re still afraid to show emotions after so many years when it wasn’t allowed to speak the truth. The Soviet Union didn’t allow Lithuanians to be Lithuanians. I see that each person weighs whether it’s worth saying what they think, or if nothing will happen if they stay silent. I believe I can help, because the only thing that unites a team is the exchange of emotions and communication. It’s important to dare to say what you don’t like, and even more important to..."
Meet Gian Luca Demarco – An Italian Chef and Entertainer at Home in Lithuania
Gian Luca Demarco, originally from Italy, brings the rich culinary traditions of his homeland to Lithuania. A graduate of the prestigious culinary institute IFSE, Gian Luca honed his skills in Michelin-starred restaurants before making Vilnius his home.
Gian Luca Demarco
Beyond his work as a TV entertainer and chef, Gian Luca actively contributes to the community: organizing meals for underprivileged people, supporting the Lithuanian military volunteers, and engaging with the Catholic community. Together with his family, he runs a Culinary Studio in Vilnius, where even the youngest family members get involved.
Luca treasures his life in Lithuania, embracing the joys of family, travel, and sharing his love for food with others.
From Sardinia to a Small Lithuanian Town – An Italian's Life-Changing Encounter
Norberto Scardovi-COSTA, a musician and singer from Sardinia, never imagined that Lithuania would become his home when he first visited the country nearly a decade ago. His life took an unexpected turn when he met Daina, a Lithuanian woman who captured his heart and changed his worldview. Their bond not only transformed his personal life but also led him to perform on Lietuvos Balsas. Kartos (The Voice Lithuania), a popular TV show, where his voice resonated with audiences across the nation.
Norberto Scardovi-COSTA
"I used to get angry when friends decided to leave for countries like France, thinking, 'How could you leave your home?'" laughs Norberto. "I thought I’d never leave Italy. My family had a small restaurant, I was singing, and we had a rock band with friends. I loved what I did and adored my land – Sardinia. I said I’d never leave, not even for Rome."
But fate had different plans, and now, just five years later, Norberto has created a fan base in Lithuania and embraced his new life wholeheartedly.
Stefano Lanza – The Italian Linguist Who Found His Home in Lithuania
Stefano Lanza, an Italian linguist who teaches Italian language and culture in Kaunas, may be the only "non-typical" Italian you'll meet – he doesn't drink coffee and has never even tasted it! A fascinating figure, Stefano has become an expert in Lithuanian, dedicating over 20 years of his life to studying the language. He is the mastermind behind the first Lithuanian-Italian dictionary, a monumental achievement that earned him an order from the President of Italy.
Stefano Lanza on the show of a famous Lithuanian journalist
Born in Milan in 1973, Stefano spent his youth in Bologna, where he studied Latin at the oldest continuously operating university in the world. His unexpected journey to Lithuania led him to fall in love with the Lithuanian language, which he learned and later used to earn his PhD. He continues his linguistic research, uncovering the rich, untapped treasures of the Lithuanian language that many locals overlook.
"I was taught French before Italian by my mother, a French language teacher," says Stefano, who believes Latin paved the way for the development of Lithuanian, a language he deeply admires. After more than two decades in Kaunas, where he now has a family, Stefano remains passionate about Lithuania and its language, encouraging others to discover its linguistic beauty.
Discover your future path in Lithuania too! Apply for your studies at Vilnius University, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics.