Infant felipe of Spain to open festival of Catalonian Culture in St. Petersburg

The heir to the Spanish throne, Prince Felipe of Asturia will open the 2nd festival of Catalonian Culture in Russia "Gold Needle" on June 24 in St. Petersburg. This event is included in the programme of Prince Felipe's official visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg on June 23-27, said Jordi Vilajoana, the minister of culture of the government of Catalonia.

Jordi Vilajoana will be heading the Catalonian delegation at the celebrations of St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary.

The heir to the Spanish throne will meet with Russian scholars studying Spain and Catalonian culture.

The programme of the festival includes concerts, exhibitions and films dedicated to Catalonian culture, for instance, the exposition timed to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great Catalonian architect Antonio Gaudi. The exhibition dedicated to Catalonian aristocrat Jose de Ribas, known as Russian Admiral Iosip Deribas who founded the city of Odessa in the 18th century, will arouse special interest.

On July 1-14 the 2nd festival of Catalonian culture will be held in Moscow.

The first festival took place in 2002 under the support of the Cervantes Institute in Moscow and enjoyed great