Journey through the Italy told and loved by Russian writers

Mar. 18 – In the works of Russian authors of the 20^th century, Italy is present. At the turn of the 21^st century, in the post-Soviet era, some poets were able to make a trip to Italy and write in poetic verses their impressions. And as a reflection on the literary trail between St. Petersburg and Italy, the Russian city kicks off on Thursday a series of conferences that will draw words, voyages, images, and poetry on this artistic connection. The Italian Institute of Culture developed the project in cooperation with departments of Philosophy and Philology of the St. Petersburg State University, the Russian Literature Institute of the “Pushkinsky Dom” Science Academy, the Dante Alighieri Society, the International Center for Russia – Italy Research and with the participation of Italian and Russian historians at various Departments of Slavic Studies in Italian universities. As stated on the website of the Italian Institute of Culture in St. Petersburg, the series of events will be unveiled Thursday at the Italian Media Center of St. Petersburg (Teatralnaja pl. 10) by Professor Marco Sabbatini during a conference on the Italian references put forth by the late-20^th century underground literary movements of the city. The evening is dedicated to the relationship between the unofficial Italian and Russian poetry of the 1960-1990 period. Images of Italian culture hold a special place in the production of poets such as Akhmatova, Brodsky and others of the Soviet era. Unable to go abroad and visit Italy, many artists developed their own mythology on Italy. In this context, particular emphasis is given to the Italian references in the works of V. Krivulina, S. Stratanovsky, and E.Shwarz.