Rome's National Museum of Oriental Art Moves to EUR, Director Denies Closure

The MNAO-Museo Nazionale d'Arte Orientale “Giuseppe Tucci” in Rome is set to move from Palazzo Brancaccio to the Museo delle Civiltà at EUR, a transition that director Filippo Maria Gambari emphasizes is not a shutdown. Established in 1957, the museum features over 40,000 artifacts from diverse regions, with significant contributions from Giuseppe Tucci in 1958 and his wife in 2000. This relocation aims to resolve issues with inadequate rental spaces and adhere to spending review requirements. A temporary exhibition will debut at the Pigorini Museum in December 2017, while complete galleries are anticipated by 2019 in new facilities owned by INAIL. The renovation, costing €10 million, is financed by CIPE for 2017–2019. Gambari has encouraged the public to check facts before voicing objections.