On 18 May 2007, Russian and Italian journalists were invited to a press conference devoted to the creation of the Hermitage in Italy Scientific and Cultural Centre, as well as to the opening of an exhibition in the State Hermitage entitled The Gates of St Peter's Cathedral in Rome in the 20th Century, and the History of the Church as Shown in Vatican Medals. Among those taking part in the press conference were Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage; Dario Franceschini, Deputy in the Italian Parliament; Pier Giorgio Dall'Aqua, President of the Province of Ferrara; Gaetano Sateriale, Mayor of the City of Ferrara; and Massimo Cecconi, Executive Director of Villaggio Globale Int. Other participants were Giancarlo Alteri, Curator of Medals in the Apostolic Vatican Library and Antonio Tancredi, President of the V. Crocetti Foundation and President of the Banks of the City of Teramo.

The signing of a Protocol of Intent between the State Hermitage, the Province of Ferrara, the Municipality of Ferrara and the Emilia-Romagna Region setting forth the conditions for preparing and implementing their cooperation projects

The signing of a Protocol on the Creation of the Hermitage-Italy Research and Cultural Centre

Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage

Pier Giorgio Dall'Aqua, President of the Province of Ferrara

Gaetano Sateriale, Mayor of the City of Ferrara