Anyone who thinks of Oman as nothing more than deserts and sand dunes is in for a surprise at Milan's Biblioteca Braidense. The exhibition Oman and Italy: Two Millennia of Cross-Civilisational Dialogue tells a remarkable story: for more than two thousand years, the Sultanate has served as a bridge between East and West - and Italy has long been part of that connection.
Through ancient artefacts, maps, manuscripts, and rare historical objects, the exhibition reveals unexpected links between the two worlds. Venetian merchants introduced European audiences to Oman's ports, while travellers from the Papal States produced some of the earliest accounts of Muscat, then a city shrouded in mystery. Visitors will also discover the ingenious aflaj irrigation system, whose underground water channels share striking similarities with the qanat introduced to Sicily during the Arab period. Alongside archaeology, the exhibition highlights the human side of Omani culture through objects associated with coffee and the tradition of hospitality - still among the country's defining values today. More than a historical exhibition, it is a journey through encounters, exchanges, and shared knowledge, revealing that the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula have been far more closely connected than most people imagine. A fascinating opportunity to discover an unexpected chapter of history - without ever leaving Milan.
