Prince of Asturias Felipe, and his wife Princess Letizia will open today together with President Georgi Purvanov the new Cervantes Institute in Sofia.

This would be the Cervantes Institute's biggest representative office in Southeastern Europe, the Bulgarian news agency reported.

Seven Spanish writers and a publisher will attend the opening of the Sofia institute. Among them is Mexican Sergio Pitol, who received the Cervantes award in 2005. The library of the Sofia institute will be named after Pitol.

Several concerts will also mark the opening of the institute. Additional events include lectures, roundtable discussions and documentary screenings.

Cervantes Institute was opened for the first time in Spain in 1991. Its main function is to spread and popularise the Spanish language and culture. Branches of the institute work in 56 cities of 37 countries.