"We had an idea to tell more about Bulgaria and our history" - Krastyo Karaboychev, president of the Bulgarian-Italian association "Pencho Slaveykov", told Radio Bulgaria:

"The idea of celebrating Independence Day and the Slaveykov family at the same time was born during a conversation with Assoc. Prof. Emil Dimitrov, who is a member of our community. He talked about the role of Hristo Slaveikov - the President of the 14th National Assembly and one of the people who played the most important role in the Declaration of Independence of Bulgaria. Hristo Slaveykov read the Manifesto for the Declaration of Independence in Parliament and solemnly presented it to Tsar Ferdinand, and on Tsarevets, after Ferdinand had read the Manifesto, he, as President of the National Assembly, greeted the Tsar of independent Bulgaria. 

We can say that this moment was the culmination of the Slaveykovs' struggle for Bulgarian independence, started by the poet Petko Slaveykov, who at the age of 16 began to teach and educate the Bulgarian people. Over the years they published dozens of newspapers, one of which was called "Nezavisimost" (Independence)."

Of Petko Slaveykov's eight children, only the descendants of Hristo Slaveykov continue the family line.  Three generations of this branch were invited to and participated in the event in Brunate, and it was very pleasant for them to communicate with the Bulgarians in Italy. The celebrations included performances by three folklore ensembles from Milan, exhibitions, literary readings and discussions about the Slaveikovs. The film by producer and director Rositsa Lazarova about Alcek and the medieval Bulgarians in Italy was also shown in Italian translation. The Pencho Slaveykov Association is very grateful to the local authorities of the tourist town for their support of its activities.