Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said an exhibition at Rome’s iconic Colosseum showcasing the shared heritage of Türkiye and Italy has attracted 2,066,178 visitors.
Titled "Troy and Rome: Myths, Legends, Stories of the Ancient Mediterranean,” the exhibition brings together more than 300 artifacts from museums in Türkiye, Italy and the Vatican, including 221 artifacts from museums affiliated with Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Ersoy said the exhibition has also contributed to strengthening ties between Türkiye and Italy. It will remain open to visitors through Oct. 18.
Shared memory
The exhibition was organized as part of cultural cooperation projects between the Turkish and Italian culture ministries. It was officially opened on June 11 at a special ceremony attended by Ersoy and Italy’s culture minister and opened to the public the following day.
The exhibition was jointly curated by the Colosseum Archaeological Park and Türkiye’s General Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Museums.
The exhibition explores the Trojan War, the political landscape of Anatolia at the time, the myths and stories recounted in Homer’s "Iliad,” Aeneas’ journey from Troy to Italy in search of a new homeland after the war and the Anatolian roots attributed to Rome’s founders.
Strengthening ties
The exhibition is part of the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s policy of promoting Türkiye’s cultural heritage internationally through temporary exhibitions, an initiative that has gained momentum in recent years.
By presenting historical and archaeological heritage as a means of dialogue, sustainable development and socioeconomic progress, the exhibition stands out as an important cultural diplomacy initiative aimed at strengthening relations between Türkiye and Italy.
Ersoy said the exhibition tells the world the shared historical story stretching from the Trojan War and Homer’s "Iliad” to Aeneas’ journey to Italy and the Anatolian origins of Rome’s founders.
"With our exhibition, which will remain open through Oct. 18, we continue to introduce our cultural values on an international scale and strengthen the ties between Türkiye and Italy through cultural diplomacy,” Ersoy said.