Madonna celebrated her 66th birthday on Friday, August 16, at Pompeii, Italy, surrounded by friends, family, and local youth participating in a cultural art project she supports.
The Queen of Pop arrived at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii with about 30 guests, including her rumored boyfriend, soccer player Akeem Morris, and her 11-year-old twin daughters, Estere and Stella. The celebration included an evening performance by the Sogno di Volare (Dream of Flying) initiative, which provides local youth with opportunities to participate in classical performances at the ancient site.
Madonna shared the festivities on Instagram with glamorous photos featuring her twins and a shirtless Morris, captioned: “Back in Italy…?? Happy Birthday to ME ????????.”
Fans had gathered since 6 p.m. to see the pop icon, and by the time Madonna arrived just after 10:30 p.m., the crowd had swelled to around 200 people. The performance at the historic site included a guided tour led by the park’s director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, and featured a chorus of young participants from the Dream of Flying project singing in Italian, Neapolitan, and English.
Madonna’s Ray of Light Foundation has fully funded the Dream of Flying project through 2025. The initiative aims to engage the local community in the cultural life of Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Zuchtriegel praised Madonna’s generosity, noting the project’s significant impact on the local youth and expressing deep gratitude for her support.
Earlier on August 16, Madonna and Morris were seen arriving by boat in Portofino, reportedly a private estate of Dolce & Gabbana. While her twins joined her in Pompeii, Madonna’s older children—Lourdes, 27, Rocco, 24, David, 18, and Mercy, 18—were not in attendance.
