Madonna celebrated her 66th birthday with friends and family in Pompeii, Italy. She joined local youth in an art project she sponsors.
According to a press release, on Friday last week, the Like a Prayer singer, who just turned 66, spent the day with members of Sogno di Volare (Dream of Flying), a project that gives young people from nearby towns the opportunity to perform classical music in the amphitheater of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
According to People, Madonna arrived at the archaeological site with about 30 people, including her rumored boyfriend, football player Akeem Morris, and her 11-year-old twin daughters Estere and Stella, to the cheers of her fans.
She also took to Instagram to post adorable pictures of herself and her kids, as well as a photo of a shirtless Morris with the caption: “Back in Italy… happy birthday to me.”
According to the outlet, Madonna joined the crowd at the park around 10:30 pm that night, where they had been waiting for her since 6 pm. The crowd of around 200 people danced to some of her songs while waiting for her arrival.
Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel took the singing superstar and her family around the ancient site, which included various performances. Some teenagers and young children involved in the Madonna-funded Dream of Flying program sang songs for her in Italian, Neapolitan as well as English.
The whole project will be funded by the Queen of Pop through her Ray of Light Foundation until 2025, which aims to involve locals in the cultural life of Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Zuchtriegel thanked Madonna for her generosity, claiming the singer’s philanthropy showed how arts and culture can influence the lives of young people in this complex region.
He also praised the pop icon’s generosity, vision and philanthropy and said it will serve as an inspiration in the future.
Earlier on August 16, Madonna was spotted arriving by boat at a private location in Portofino, Italy, which is believed to be Dolce & Gabbana’s personal property according to Italian media. However, while Estere and Stella accompanied her and Morris to Pompeii, her other children – Lourdes (27), Rocco (24), David (18) and Mercy (18) – were notably absent.
Also read: Happy Birthday Madonna: Re-listen to 5 of the Queen of Pop’s best tracks on her 66th birthday
