“Jordan: Dawn of Christianity” exhibition opened Friday, July 4th in the Italian city of Assisi, in the presence of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab, Jordan’s Ambassador to Italy Qais Abu Daieh, Deputy Mayor of Assisi Veronica Cavallucci, and a large number of Italian official, political, religious, and cultural figures.

According to a ministry statement on Saturday, the exhibition’s inauguration in Assisi, and previously in the Vatican, comes within the framework of highlighting the importance of Jordan’s faith heritage and promoting religious tourism.

Talking at the opening ceremony, the minister said: “This exhibition is particularly significant as it is being held in Assisi, a global symbol of peace and dialogue and a pilgrimage destination, visited by over 5 million visitors and pilgrims annually. This reinforces its message of promoting Jordan as a prominent religious, spiritual, and cultural destination.”

Noting the importance of holding the event in a symbolic city like Assisi, she stated His Majesty King Abdullah II received the 2019 Lamp of Peace Award there in recognition of his efforts to promote human rights, fraternity, interfaith dialogue, and peace in the Middle East and the world.

The minister noted the event carries a “humanitarian and spiritual message” that transcends borders, highlighting the Jordanian model of coexistence and harmony and reflecting Jordan’s image as a land of peace and humanity.

The event, she noted, will contribute to promoting religious tourism and inviting visitors to explore the Kingdom’s holy sites.

Abu Daieh said this cultural cooperation reflects the “deep-rooted, historic” Jordanian-Italian relations and strengthens the bridges of friendship and understanding between the two peoples.

Abu Daieh highlighted Jordan’s “pivotal” role in protecting and preserving holy sites, especially referring to the Hashemite Custodianship over Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, which embodies the Kingdom’s “unwavering” commitment to protecting human religious heritage.

Cavallucci, in turn, said the exhibition sends a “strong message” to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue, adding that Assisi always welcomes initiatives that foster understanding and rapprochement between peoples.

The attendees toured the exhibition, which features approximately 90 rare artifacts from 34 archaeological sites in Jordan, including the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ in Al-Maghtas, Mount Nebo, Mukawir Castle, Tell Mar Elias, and the Church of Our Lady of the Mount in Anjara.

This exhibition, organized by the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities under the supervision of Artistic Director Iyad Khazouz, is the second stop on its world tour following its successful run in the Vatican last February and March.

The event will continue until August 2 at Palazzo Monte Frumentario in the heart of Assisi, and its next stop will be in the Greek capital, Athens, in September