The Treasures of the Pharaohs Exhibition in Rome drew massive crowds a day after opening, selling 50,000 tickets — 10,000 more than on its first day — prompting organisers to consider extending visiting hours, Egypt's tourism ministry said Saturday. Hosted at Scuderie del Quirinale in the Italian capital, the exhibition was inaugurated earlier on 24 October by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, Italy's Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, and Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. Since the official opening, thousands of visitors have queued from early morning to view the rare artifacts on display, reflecting Italy's enduring fascination with ancient Egypt. Khaled said the daily number of visitors is expected to reach 6,000 to 7,000, adding that discussions are underway to extend opening hours to accommodate the surging interest. "The strong turnout underscores the deep connection Italians have with Egyptian civilisation and highlights the exhibition's success from day one," Khaled said, noting that it also supports efforts to promote Egypt as a leading cultural tourism destination in Europe. From 24 October to 3 May, the Treasures of the Pharaohs Exhibition features 130 artefacts carefully selected on loan from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the Luxor Museum of Art and the Egyptian Museum in Turin. It showcases the splendor of ancient Egyptian life through themes of royalty, religion, daily life, funerary traditions, and the afterlife. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
