The National Museum of Oriental Art of Rome was founded in 1957, as a result of the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the back then called Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente (the Italian Institute for the Middle and the Far East), or IsMEO, now called Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente (the Italian Institute for Africa and Orient), or IsIAO. Due to the fact Giuseppe Tucci was one of the most fervent promoters of its foundation (as well as one of the finest orientalists of his time), the museum bears his name (some of the exhibits showcased at present at the museum were donated by Giuseppe Tucci following his travels to the East in the first half of the 20th century).

The collections of the museum were gathered as a result of sundry exploratory undertakings: the archeological excavations carried out by the institute, donations, exchanges and purchases. The findings brought from sites like Aligrama, Butkara Stupa, Panr, and Barikot, as well as from Shahr-e Sokhteh, Ghazni, and Afghanistan, are of special interest. The overall picture, however, is as comprehensive as it gets: the 14 rooms (other rooms are expected to open in the future) provide a coherent image of the oriental culture, from China to Iraq and Pakistan, including India and Tibet, by means of the artifacts and artistic works showcased here: vases, ceramics, paintings, busts, sculptures, clothing and the like.

A library and a photography archive are also part of the institution.

Name:
National Museum of Oriental Art (Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale “Giuseppe Tucci”)
Address:
248, Via Merulana, 00185, Rome, Italy
Telephone:
0039 06 46974831 / 0039 06 46974815
Fax:
0039 06 46974837
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.museorientale.beniculturali.it
Opening hours:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 9am to 2pm; Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays: 9am to 7:30pm