Opening of the National Museum of Tajikistan’s International Exhibition “Tajikistan — The Land of Unique Heritage” at the Museum of Civilizations in Rome

On 20 October 2026, the international exhibition “Tajikistan — The Land of Unique Heritage” was officially opened at the Museum of Civilizations (Museo delle Civiltà) in Rome, with the participation of high-ranking representatives of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Italian Republic.
The opening ceremony was attended by Matlubakhon Sattoriyon Amonzoda, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan; Jamoliddin Ubaidullo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Italian Republic; Zulfiya Burhon, Secretary-General of the National Commission of the Republic of Tajikistan for UNESCO; Clemente Contestabile, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister of Culture of the Italian Republic; Ibrohimzoda Zafarsho Safo, Director of the National Museum of Tajikistan; Tommaso Serafini, Director of Service III of the relevant Italian Directorate-General; and Dr Luana Toniolo, Director of the Museum of Civilizations in Rome.
In his address, Ibrohimzoda Zafarsho Safo, Director of the National Museum of Tajikistan, emphasised the importance of the exhibition in presenting the rich history and civilisation of the Tajik people and strengthening cultural and scientific cooperation between Tajikistan and Italy. He noted that the exhibition, held in the year marking the 35th anniversary of the State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan, carried particular symbolic significance.
In turn, Clemente Contestabile, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister of Culture of the Italian Republic, expressed his gratitude to the management and staff of the State Institution “National Museum” of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Museum of Civilizations (Museo delle Civiltà) in Rome for their fruitful cooperation and for creating the conditions necessary to organise such a significant international exhibition. He stressed that initiatives of this kind play an important role in the study and promotion of historical and cultural heritage, as well as in the development of international cultural cooperation. He also expressed confidence that cooperation between Tajikistan and Italy in the field of museology would continue to expand and encompass new areas of joint activity.
The exhibition features 80 unique historical and cultural artefacts spanning various periods of Tajik history, from the 6th century BCE to the 21st century CE. Among the most significant exhibits are archaeological finds from Takht-i Sangin, Ancient Panjakent, Ajina-Teppa and Bunjikat, Sogdian inscriptions, as well as examples of traditional crafts and visual art.
The exhibition also presents elements of the intangible cultural heritage of the Tajik people, including the art of Chakan embroidery, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018, and the art of crafting and playing the rubab, added to the same list in 2024.
To mark the exhibition, a comprehensive 120-page catalogue of the artefacts has been published in Tajik and English.
Dr Luana Toniolo, Director of the Museum of Civilizations in Rome, also emphasised the importance of this initiative in promoting Tajikistan’s cultural heritage to the international community and strengthening ties between museums. She expressed her appreciation for the fruitful cooperation and the organisation of the exhibition, and reaffirmed the Italian side’s readiness to continue developing joint projects in the future.