"I have aimed to make [Turkey] understand clearly our country's level of concern on this affair," Alfano said.
The minister then went on to phone his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu to reiterate Italy’s firm request for the immediate release of Del Grande.
Alfano said he had received the "utmost commitment" from the Turkish government and that release procedures will be completed as soon as possible.
A member of the Italian consulate in the Turkish city of Izmir on Wednesday travelled to the Turkish administrative detention centre at Mugla, on the country’s southern Aegean coast, where Del Grande is detained.
The journalist’s lawyer visited the administrative detention centre along with the Italian Vice-Consul in Ankara, but Turkish authorities prevented the duo from seeing Del Grande.
Del Grande, 34, phoned Italy Tuesday to say he was well but that he was going on a hunger strike to demand his rights be respected.
