APCOM

"Milano is fourth city in Italy in terms of offer in the tourism industry and first in terms of painting galleries" said today Vittorio Sgarbi, City Municipality's Culture assessor during the conference "What future for cultural tourism in Milan?" which inaugurated the Bit, Borsa Internazionale del Turismo, the four day event focusing on Tourism which takes place in Milano and this year has reached its 28th edition.

"The city doesn't lack cultural and artistic excellences - Sgarbi explained - but a lot of them are little known. The most significant example of Venetian architecture for instance is not in Venice but is Palazzo Clerici, just like Sant'Ambrogio is the most valuable Romanesque art example" he said.

During the opening sessions of the internationally renowned event which brings to the city delegates from over 150 countries, Tuscany was awarded the Bit Tourism Award as most popular destination for visitors. The region was also rewarded for its cities; Florence is second after Rome in most preferred Italian urban destinations. The award, which this year reaches its second edition, is based on the internet votes of public and tourism operators.

Addressing the participants of the daily session of the Bit, Minister for Cultural Heritage Francesco Rutelli said: "Italy has learned to exploit the big events, like the 2000 Jubilee and the Winter Olympic games in Turin in 2006. I hope this will also happen with Expo 2015, a goal we are all very committed to and which represents a great challenge for this territory" he added.