Ambassador ANTONELLA CAVALLARI
Ambassador of Italy in Nicosia since 12 January 2026, Antonella Cavallari, a graduate in Political Science from the University of Florence, joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984.
She worked first in Rome in the Directorate General for Economic Affairs and, starting in 1991, in various foreign countries with different functions. She was First Commercial Secretary at the Italian Embassy in Cairo, then Head of the Consular Chancellery at the Italian Embassy in Tokyo. In 1998 she returned to Rome, where she was Head of the Desk dealing with Italians abroad, helping and instructing the Italian Embassies and Consulates in most problematic issues, ranging from criminal and penal justice to minors. Later she was responsible for the organization of the first political elections and referendum in which Italian citizens abroad could vote in their places of residence. Further relevant positions followed, such as Head of Cabinet of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco Danieli and, immediately after, of the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Vincenzo Scotti.
In 2013 she was appointed Ambassador of Italy to Paraguay, where she resided until 2016, when she returned to Rome as Director for Latin America and Caribbean and Deputy Director General for Mondial Affaires, managing bilateral relations with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This position was followed by her appointment as Delegate of the Italian Government to the IILA, the International Italo-Latin American Organization, with the charge of Vice President. From 2020 to 2025, she became Secretary General of the same Organization, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Governments of the other 20 IILA member States, to strengthen relations with Italy and the European Union.
Ambassador Cavallari is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. He has obtained, as part of his career, the following decorations:
Order of the Precious Crown of the Japanese Government, Butterfly.
Order of Merit of the Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Brazil in the rank of Commander
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in the rank of Knight Officer
Order of Merit of the Republic of Paraguay in the rank of Knight Grand Cross.
Order of the Rio Branco of the Federal Republic of Brazil in the rank of Knight Grand Cross
Order of Merit of the Argentine Republic in the rank of Grand Officer
Order of Bernardo O’Higgins of the Republic of Chile in the rank of Grand Officer
Order of St. Charles of the Republic of Colombia in the rank of Grand Officer
Order of Merit of the Ministry of Defense of Colombia