absolutely beautiful welcome to florence and the famous bridge on this week's program we'll be continuing our exploration of russian culture and influence of broad from famous people who live here to current russians who live and work in italy and who wouldn't be happy here with glorious went to sun sensational food and often culture it's the beginning of the nineteenth century saw a number of russian wealthy families to skinny italy has always held a special attraction for russians many tools of each of these the cultural center of the world and with its breathtaking architecture food and style it gets you thinking that maybe some truth in that today dozens of tall companies offer excursions by plane and bus loads of russians arrive every week. with famous landmarks such that one murder conservation bridge in a fancy museum because i'm not saying that everyone will be impressed on the first visit here. it's amazing here we're especially impressed that despite

so many tourists the city is still clean quiet safe and relaxed oh yes. without you is underlain and in florence for nine years and in my experience russians like not only the architectural and cultural beauty of the city that also enjoys shopping in iraq a lot especially for not a good receiver ideas that. would make is the hometown of michelangelo and. they spent a lot of time living and working in this region of italy the art and culture that have created and contributed influenced many outstanding russians who came to florence for inspiration and stayed here for a while for which there are many ways talented and skilled italians enriched brushy cultural life and vice versa over the centuries tell you expect a huge influence in the design of moscow and st petersburg. well the other great

things about florence is the shopping. pastime of many russian tourists prices are lower here for designer goods than back home although this next luxurious pretty well it might be better not to look at the price tags. here in the main shopping street of florence you can find a design a boutique a brand that was founded at the beginning of the twentieth century by a russian noble family. in two thousand and eight it's now an international company based in france with several stores in italy. owned by the russian what. are these three of the russian fashion they go to she reads like an exciting novel the story of the brands you could say is part of russia's heritage and history. founded in paris in one thousand twenty four by prince philip you suppose and his wife marina the niece of the last russian song nikolai the second and says she clothing range

tasseled european and american customers but the prince has a little business sense and two years after the nine hundred twenty nine the street crash ruins his most prosperous clients do you suppose it was forced to shut up shop. almost eight decades after the original house of m. street clothes stores are still going to has restored the branches for glory. to our next location now and in a city known as the cradle of the renaissance surrounded by terra cotta roofs a cluster of onion domes each topped with a tall cross is certainly not what you would expect to see in the florence skyline less than a mile from florence is to most these brightly colored domes of a different kind marked the surviving history of russian immigration to italy and florence the russian orthodox church of the nativity of christ.

there's been a russian orthodox church on the site since ninety three built by the russian community in far in time this is something to consider will damage over the years but was restored several times elegant and exotic in matches the city's cultural heritage perfectly reflecting in the true architectural style of seventeenth century moscow today the church is popular with orthodox worship as from all over tuscany. the church of florence houses many historic relics of the russian orthodox church including works by both russian and it's how you artists it's on the market yukon's in florence and it's a place that brings the local christian community closer together and welcome addition to christian life in tuscany. because i knew most of the congregation of

our church consisted of people of many nationalities including russians ukrainians in georgians greeks italians serbs and bulgarians this church is the first big orthodox cathedral that was built initially then more cathedrals and sundry moved on to very period and only five years ago a big church in rome was bill that. tchaikovsky the demi the family to c.s.t. a real russians with a strong connection to italy. twenty minutes outside the city well met with beautiful scenery vibrant colors. but what has this pod got to do with russian culture. to answer that question let's meet this week's guest. great to meet you thank you very much for your time nice to meet you while we here in this beautiful

and i guess of bad given the question this place is called upon to lead. the sheen and there are many beautiful airless here one of them in fact where we're standing right now is named after dusty of ski he spent a year in the city and it was said to be one of the happiest times of his life. came to florence with his young wife and they found out here that they were going to have a baby and the couple stayed in the city while she was pregnant. also finished the eaters' here so she left her own model trace in the history of this city. and it's not just. tchaikovsky's but on this life there are many russian influences in florence. tchaikovsky spend seventy years in florence and composed quilts and is here enjoyed florence a lot there whether architecture art and the many museums the famous director talk or ski also leave here in the nineteen seventy's and eighty's then there is joseph brought ski but turner who has not been to florence i'm to go up to the model and

it seems that many russians love it but one particular florence there's nor about this place the city is not too big and not too small and its historical centrist packed with everything one might fancy museum goers admirers of there were nations an art lovers is perfect for everyone also those who are into fashion are excited to come here not to mention those seeking good food and wine. or thank you very much for your time and enjoy your time your words. moving on and what other locations in florence are connected to russia one of the most beautiful palaces is still officially named. after a noble russian family who ended the nineteenth century it was pulled by count to me to be truly a senator and the director of the hermit's harsh to the god son of empress catherine the great palace also contained impressive library which he started to put together in italy to replace his previous collection of books which were lost

in the great. in eighteen twelve. the brutal ends were not the only wealthy russian family who made an impression in florence. in the city are also connected to the demeter family they're all squares villas and monuments in honor of the family members who lived in florence in the nineteenth century and the family emblem can even be seen on the front of the basilica of st mary the flower as it's officially cooled when money was needed to restore the cathedral princedom it off donated a large sum as his contribution was so great the florentine governess thanked him by putting the emblem right next to the main entrance. many russian artists traveled all lived in italy in the previous centuries and the country is still an inspiration for many of their works far from classical but rather unusual controversial contemporary art is displayed at a russian art gallery in the center of florence. and she stood on

galloway has existed for several years now and now we're working on a new concept. we want to showcase his work which would combine art blind and sound and would affect as many senses as visitors as possible the want to share that article not only visual treat little so heal a person. folks. florence is full of captivating stories and legends connects to many corners of the world. one local met is that if you rub this bourse snouts and put a coin in its mouth you will return to florence at some point in your life i'm no he doesn't really like to has poor rubles. and italian many similarities the culture of the two countries is very classical based and complementary in many ways both have a rich history incumbent's a long tradition of excellence in every aspect of arts and design. and from modern christian french fashion houses to cranes all throughout churches cheap away. the

russian connections you can find in italy and you'll be amazed at the results. did call florence the city of dreams he said to make a point but unfortunately that's that's how we have left on this week's program i think that's the end of our exploration of russian culture here in italy i'll see you again at the same time next week we'll be back in the russian capital to tell them from me and the rest of the moscow our group. to the. this month chunks by particles that make up the fabric of the universe find

what you're looking for in the deep siberian forest prevent a fire with the help of lasers in fibers pull out your tablet a little new gaming religion and let the inventor begin all of that here dear sputnik knology on page here on r.g.p. we've got the future covered. please. please. just sleep. and.

see a story. you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else you hear or see some other part of it and realize that everything is all. part of the big picture.

more news today violence is once again flared up. these are the images the world has been seeing from the streets of canada. the day. shocking revelations in an already troubled post gadhafi libya as human rights groups accuse the military of torturing detainees to death and this to international is ringing the alarm and doctors without borders has already pulled out of the city of misrata in protest cities. poland witnesses protests against the government signing of an international. design to enforce intellectual property rights but activists on the streets say to agreement on this act but infringe on the internet freedom lead to online censorship. and iran

considers banning oil sales to europe preempting the ease decision to stop importing oil from the country. but as war rhetoric against tehran escalates in the west ordering americans voice their opposition to any possible military confrontation. dimitris here now all the data sports news. sports thanks for joining us of a shower coming up in the program. bouncing back to school rick crushing defeat by beating up on. a russian russian who will go battle for those three open title and the winner will

become the world number one. and seeing all the final rafael nadal beats a tunnel at rival border in the last four. but the way the kontinental hockey league dunam up bounced back after a five one defeat by scott is the most comfortable to be three goals to none and stayed in the western conference because of it but up with all the details. i've learned had suffered four straight defeats and set fifth in the western conference eight points behind third place dinara both sides had been thrashed in their previous encounters and were eager to bounce back in front of russia head coach. who attended the clash it was that there a lack of defense if it were in this that allowed deny meant to score carbon copy goals late in the first period and the blue and whites never looked back first denise felt back a collective that two zone pass to get one on one and the ball jumped bus to

russia's international constantin but all in. and just eighteen seconds after the restored to the house doubled their lead this time grigori shifty going broke away leaving the goaltender guessing to nothing after the opener five minutes into the second and the home team earned a penalty shot by rowan and turned away shot by deny was need for it mikaela needs him to keep up wanting the game and the frame and its corliss in the final period in a word ticking but the twenty seven year old goalie denied old their efforts however even the best russian at minor was helpless when the blue and white scored an empty net in the dying seconds of the game nice in sealed a final score at three to nothing with his first goal for dinar more difficult or flew off the preparations for the playoffs are a day on their way tension and pressure is arriving up in every game very very good to be united tonight was a well deserved win the wilderness and we're going to start

a season. in the middle of the season some good games. in our health this. downside not going to last too long and. many games and we have to recover after find our game and start preparing for. this loss at learn suffered a fifth consecutive defeat well do not seem to book the third place in the western conference with damages to go before the. stuart is a mother of forty. but it's not secular thursdays are their results nine games took place across the continent often beliefs on the road by three wild by response called five unanswered goals severe physical destruction needed a shootout to defeat the old which was made to wait so that it raining turn personality life against sara started. struggling vitis suffered their defeat in a row this time their loss to impose on seventy two other big victory was registered

in st petersburg where it currently lead is scar thresh a sitter paid eight three meanwhile after him a claim the shootout between overs. and finally left were too strong for scott. to the hard courts or the certain open now where maria sharapova has advanced into the women's singles final after beating world number to veto in the last four the twenty four year old russian needed over two hours to check opponent shotput wrapped up a six two three six six four victory in the decisive match russia's top woman i think i like i. mean so much to be back in a grand slam final stage of him before she years ago here. it's nice to get that

far again after losing quite. so i mean it's hard to me playing some moments just result has been the last couple of times in history really wanted to. the third seed belorussian herself seeing of defending champ and kim clijsters of belgium also in three sets so against. the final will become the world number one in the w t a range. running like a marathon out there. i just try to start to be more aggressive in trying to play my game and start from the beginning you know i have one myself to go i have another i don't know hour thirty minutes forty five minutes to make a difference so that's why i was my mentor. in the men's draw till this sport's greatest be formed yet another class

a grand slam encounter at melbourne park rafael nadal proving once again to have the upper hand on roger federer when it mattered most and meeting where the other final with had trading set while there were to rough up the pressure by taking the third one seven six for federer being unable to hit the heights again two thousand and nine cantar an adult taking the match. six seven six seven six six four aiming for his second a certain open title and eleventh grand slam overall while federer has won only two matches against disappointed in a grand slam events i. don't blame him because there is going to hear when i am really to blame. because this was a distance because i am really to blame a business. that's what they can see. only when i was it is because.

because i always was in the finals or was in a in a very important matches and having a good confidence because i have. won a look at matches before i feel it was really good against me you know obviously i play a different game too. and. you know he's very me that many times and plays the euros jaws or something out of those matches and so it was good winning record against me which maybe gives mexico influence i don't know. well number one and defending champion djokovic takes on and moderate later on in the semifinal clash. may basketball's your league turkish side have claimed narrow victory against an impact beats the greeks by a single point on home courts the visitors took advantage of the show's john by the coach at the end of the first quarter the game was tied at fifteen zero then goal to survive found their rhythm and work for team points and by the time. back in the

second part of the game costas focus had short of the day and space three pointers sent the game into overtime at the buzzer making it six to nine all and the hosts managed to take out the greeks that saving type seventy eight seventy seven victory . in the meantime barcelona boasting the best defensive record in the travel to make. it dominated the first quarter for the visitors coming back while in the second as the game was tied tied to not only half way through but then the visitors slowly seize the initiative. eighteen points and fourteen from. the strongest contributions into their confidence twenty seven to one fifty seven victory for this planet's result leaves in total with two wins as many games. i would say that it's now way some of the world's elite runners suffer powell and

veronica campbell brown already looking ahead to the twenty twelve london olympic games and above all else taking first place is once again their number one go. in maybe olympic year because my age is moving as far as rooney so different they have to put in the x. or. you know to run indoors you know working on the star you know is fifty meters were you know run of the middle of the work i didn't stop a minute of the other three meters i am blessed to one. hundred meter you'll be twice and i think i've become a different one in history to do it three times is great and it's in the back of my had that working hard to give i'm not on the team yet still have the child in june and so the objective is to alfie kohn to train hard and hopefully make the team in both events in then take it from there. and finally this courses which will be used

for the sort to twenty fourteen winter olympic games will soon be broken in a skate world cup stage in february set to allow gold medal hopefuls the chance to try the future of soaps there all the hotel course will be tested by f.i.o.s. world cup competitors starting from february eighth russia's youth team will be fast to try them out before three athletes from the country can paint in the center section downhill skiing and super can light on the many top women stars may be in for a surprise because director saying challenging amendments have been made especially for the female athletes so. the stars scheme is concerned live substantially remodelled the women's course who basically added four hundred challenge meters to the course and that stretch should really pulls a lot of problems for the female skiers in their fares downhill the senate. goes ok up to there now more sports news form around the globe for in two hours time hey on

r.t. weather is next. culture is that so much of the definition there is a huge musician power and finding the platinum are left libya intervention like in the specter of civil war libya's transitional way from the gadhafi regime is proving far more problematic.

eat eat eat. eat eat. eat eat. illegal.

ily. ily. ily. ily. ily. shocking revelations in an already troubled post gadhafi in libya a human rights groups accuse the military of torturing detainees to death. angry activists on the streets of poland to protest against the government signing of a lengthy international court they say will result in internet censorship elite under iran considers a boil sales to bureau of the use decision to stop importing crude from the country but iran says it's ready for negotiations over its nuclear program. and in business

. closer to increasing its share in the russian. could come within weeks join me for the details of politics. world news and comment twenty four hours a day for watching r t m kerridge last several detainees in libya have died in recent weeks as a result of torture according to amnesty international human rights group says the crimes were committed by the libyan military and security forces thousands of gadhafi loyalists remain behind bars and suffering the same atrocities handed out under the late colonel's regime. for national has more. doctors without borders known for going do their job in the most dangerous and.