Havana, December 2 (RHC) – The nights at Avenida Italia or Galeano have been given an almost mythical touch this week when the street was filled with lights to celebrate the 500th Years of Havana. The beautiful Italian gift for the Cuban capital is as part of a cultural project between the two countries and pursues the promotion of cooperation between Italy and Cuba in multiple areas.

The work by Italian set designer Carmelo Giamello was made with lit up spheres of various dimensions, forming several constellations and giving rise to the creation of the Milky Way. The initiative is part of a public lighting project for Italian Christmas since 1998. This has occurred on the threshold of activities that Italy’s Agency for Cultural and Economic Exchange with Cuba (AICEC) is organizing from November 5 to 7 with the support of Havana’s Government and the Provincial Culture Division.

The Avenida Italia Festival will bring together groups, performers and artists from both nations with varied cultural and recreational proposals. ‘This is an example of what can be achieved with an exchange that allows us to skip intermediaries and promote trade with Cuba with solidarity despite differences,’ said Roberto Verrier, Director of ProCuba, the Foreign Trade and Investment Training Center. ‘Havana deserves a popular party that shows the strength of our two cultures, its resilience and its status as a world heritage,’ said AICEC President Michele Curto at a news conference this week.

On November 5, sports, cultural and entertainment activities are planned for Galiano Street or Avenida Italia, as well as the opening of a photo exhibit of Gino Doné Paro, an Italian who came to Cuba along with more than 80 revolutionaries on the Granma yacht in 1956 to begin the Cuban Revolution at the Sierra Maestra Mountains. Performing the same day will be Italian-Cuban soprano Ileana Jiménez and Cuban guitarist Rolando Macías at six in the afternoon at the Galiano Gallery.