Against the picturesque backdrop of Rome's historic streets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posed with his "friend", Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, shortly after arriving in Italy for the final leg of his five-nation tour. The pictures quickly went viral on social media, garnering over 2.2 million likes on Instagram within two hours.
The two leaders, whose camaraderie has inspired the viral "Melodi" trend online, once again grabbed attention with their warm interaction and photos together. Both Modi and Meloni have acknowledged the popular memes in the past and often joined in on the buzz themselves.
Sharing pictures from the meeting, PM Modi wrote on social media, "Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects."
"Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship," he added.
The leaders were seen visiting the iconic Colosseum, the world's largest ancient amphitheatre and one of Italy's most recognisable landmarks.
PM Modi arrived in Italy on Tuesday and received a warm welcome from Meloni, who posted on X, "Welcome to Rome, my friend!"
The two leaders last met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in November 2025, where they held bilateral discussions. After the meeting, Meloni had described it as "a friendly and positive exchange" and reiterated their commitment to strengthening India-Italy ties, using the now-viral hashtag "Melodi".
During the interaction, PM Modi gifted Meloni the famous Melody chocolate, while the two leaders were also seen clicking cheerful selfies and laughing thier hearts out.Their warm camaraderie and candid moments quickly went viral online, with fans flooding social media with memes and reactions celebrating the much-loved "Melodi" reunion.
PM Modi's Italy Visit
According to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, PM Modi received an enthusiastic welcome from the Indian community in Italy upon his arrival in Rome.
The reception featured cultural performances by Italian artists, including Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Bharatanatyam dances, alongside Indian classical music performances.
"The enchanting display of Santoor, Tabla, Bansuri and Sitar showcased the richness of India's musical legacy," Jaiswal said in a social media post.
PM Modi also shared details of his interaction with Italian painter Giampaolo Tomassetti, who presented him with artwork inspired by Varanasi. Modi praised Tomassetti's long-standing passion for Indian culture, noting that the artist had illustrated books on Vedic culture in the 1980s and later created 23 large paintings based on the Mahabharata between 2008 and 2013.
The Prime Minister further highlighted the growing popularity of Indian classical music in Italy, applauding Italian musicians who performed the Hamsadhwani during the community event in Rome.
Italy marks the final stop of PM Modi's whirlwind five-nation tour, which also included visits to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway.
