Architect Renzo Piano, commissioned to design Valletta's City Gate and Opera House, will be visiting the island on Sunday.

The government yesterday said the purpose of his short visit is to enable him to study the site in order to prepare a concept and design.

During his visit, Mr Piano will be accompanied by architects Bernard Plattner and Antonio Belveders, who both work in his studio.

He will also meet Minister for Information, Communication and Technology Austin Gatt and other government officials involved in the project.

This is the first time Mr Piano will be coming to Malta since it was announced in December that he was in business to take on the €80 million project.

However, it is his third official visit since his relationship with the island started some 20 years ago while his associates have already been on a preliminary familiarisation trip.

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