On November 23, 2015 in the framework of the Ukrainian-Italian Scientific and Technical Seminar on the Preservation and Restoration of the Historical Monuments: from Monumental Paintings to Historic Buildings the delegation of Italian restorers led by the organizers of the seminar represented by the Director of the Italian Trade Agency Alessandro Gerbino, visited the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve. The experts in restoration and conservation works, architects, directors of construction companies were presented among the members of the delegation.

The meeting was opened by the words of welcome of the Director General of the Preserve Lyubomyr Mykhaylyna and the Italian Trade Agency Director Alessandro Gerbino. After the official part the floor was given to the Italian guests who told briefly about the activities of the organizations that they represented. In their turn, the employees of the Preserve represented by the chief architect and heads of departments responsible for the restoration and conservation of movable and immovable monuments in the Preserve, familiarized their Italian colleagues with their activity in the field of the historical monuments and works of art preservation and told about the major challenges they are facing in their work.

Undoubtedly, Italian colleagues were interested not only in hearing about the peculiarities of the restoration activities in the Preserve, but also in seeing firsthand the architectural pearls of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Therefore, the visit of the delegation proceeded in the format of a sightseeing tour, during which, in addition to the historical information, Italian specialists had an opportunity to get acquainted with restoration techniques that Preserve experts are using during their work as well as evaluate the state of conservation of the monuments.

After the visit of the Dormition Cathedral and other churches of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, namely, the Trinity Gate Church, the Refectory Church, the All Saints Church and the Church of St Saviour at Berestove, the Preserve restorers of movable monuments presented the excellent examples of their hard work at the exhibition "The Renewed Treasures of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra".

The visit ended at the exhibition of miniatures of Nicholay Syadrystyi, which has not its analogues in the world.

The Seminar will continue its work on November 24 in the National Conservation Area “Saint Sophia of Kyiv”. The second day of the event will be dedicated to the thematic speeches of Italian participants and to the bilateral negotiations of Italian and Ukrainian sides. It is expected that the seminar will be an outstanding platform for launching a fruitful cooperation between Ukraine and Italy in the field of the conservation and restoration of the historical monuments and implementation of the joint projects.

At the end of the meeting the parties exchanged protocol gifts.