Italian Foreign Minister Proud for Italy's Contribution To St.Petersburg's New Look

Italy is proud that it has made its contribution into St. Petersburg's new look, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said at the presentation of the project of Italy's participation in the celebration of St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary.

According to Frattini, the extensive programme of Italy's participation in jubilee events is aimed at strengthening friendship between the two countries.

On the occasion Italy will hold over 90 cultural events. They will take place in both Russia and Italy. Among them there will be performances of La Scala and Teatro Piccolo in Milan as well as concerts, art exhibitions, fashion shows and restoration of the Konstantinovsky Palace's pylons on the River Strelnya and Rafael's painting "Madonna Conestabile" in Hermitage by Italian experts.

There is also an agreement to hold in Italy an exhibition of Russian icons of the 15th-17th centuries, which have never been taken out of Russia before, Frattini stated. "This exhibition will give Italians an opportunity to get to know this special kind of Russian art," Frattini stressed.

A few days ago Rome hosted the opening of an exhibition, St. Petersburg-Italy 1750-1850, describing Italian architects' contribution to the construction of the Russian Northern capital.