Al Bano

Marco Carta has won the 59th Sanremo festival with the song, La Forza Mia, which he also wrote. His victory was decided with a combination of votes from a jury and the public.

So far, it’s not a good year for Italy’s former Eurovision singers. Two of the three singers who have represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest are now out of the festival.

The 59th Festival della Canzone Italiana, otherwise known as Sanremo, begins on Tuesday 17th February in the Teatro Ariston in the Ligurian town. All through the week EuroVisionary will bring you up to date with the latest news.

RAI have released the names of the singers and songs competing in the 2009 Sanremo festival. Among the names are some which will be familiar to Eurovision fans.