Monuments to architects Rossi, Rinaldi, Quarenghi, Rastrelli open in Petersburg

Busts of four famous architects involved in the building of St. Petersburg - Carlo Rossi, Antonio Rinaldi, Giacomo Quarenghi and Bartolomeo Rastrelli were opened in Manege Square near Italian Street in Petersburg.

Representatives of Milan's City Hall attended the opening ceremony, said the organising committee of the festival "Italy in Italian Street." Bronze busts were Milan's presents to St. Petersburg. They were created by Petersburg sculptor Vladimir Gorev on the initiative and money of the Italian side.

The opening of the monuments to the Italian architects became the first event of the 5th festival "Italy in Italian Street." In 2003 the festival programme will last for almost a month /till June 22/ and will be dedicated to Petersburg's anniversary.

Delegations from San Remo, Milan, Venice, Salerno and Tuscany will participate in the celebrations.

Concerts of Italian musicians and a retrospective show of films by Italian directors will take place as part of the festival in St. Petersburg.

Italian hairdressers will also demonstrate their art. They will help Petersburg residents and guests to look like Venetians. A Venetian carnival in the Mikhailovsky Garden of the State Russian Museum will close the festival on June 21.