The collection of the Mann Museum of Naples arrives in Saudi Arabia

A strategic partnership has been signed between the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the prestigious Mann Museum, bringing the latter into RCU’s global network of cultural partners, which already includes leading institutions from the UK, France, China and Italy.

The exhibition

In this important exhibition, which takes the name of “Masterpieces of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples”, 15 masterpieces from famous archaeological sites such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome will be presented.

Among the exhibits are precious marbles and the terracotta elephant, presented for the first time outside of Italy. The famous Nile Mosaic will also be part of the exhibition, after its international debut in Japan.

Exhibition at the Ancient Kingdoms Festival

The event will be held at the Maraya, the world's largest mirrored building, from November 7 to December 14, as part of the Ancient Kingdoms Festival. This festival represents a journey into the past capable of engaging families with immersive and multisensory experiences.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore AlUla’s historical role on the Incense Route and discover the treasures of this ancient trade route. In addition to the general public, visitors to the exhibition will include guests of the AlUla World Archaeological Symposium and school children from AlUla, involved in the Ancient Kingdoms Festival School Engagement Week.

Partnerships and cultural exchanges

The cooperation between RCU and the Mann is based on an intergovernmental agreement signed in May 2023 between Saudi Arabia and Italy, aimed at promoting cultural diplomacy through cultural preservation, knowledge sharing and heritage protection. Part of this collaboration includes sponsoring cultural exchanges, such as the recent trip of a group of Arab storytellers (Rawi) to Naples, where they were able to deepen their knowledge of the Mann's collections. In addition to the exhibition, the partnership will be enriched with technical cooperation and capacity-building projects, involving cultural resources and heritage sites in AlUla, promoting research and interpretation of this unique shared cultural heritage.