The exhibition 'Giotto in Iasi,' which is bringing one of the great artist's most important works, Polittico, to Romania for the first time, opened on Wednesday evening at the Palace of Culture in Iasi, in the presence of Culture Minister Demeter Andras and Italy's Ambassador to Romania Laura Aghilarre.

'We are all witnessing a first: the first time this work has left Italy, and its first journey is to Iasi. This courageous act by the museum that has lent the work is also an act of responsibility, because in the future it must make these works accessible. For us, it also means something else: after the pandemic, when everything was brought to a standstill, there was a further halt to the movement of movable cultural property which, as you know very well, was caused by the theft of the Dacian Treasure, leading to a blockage in Romania for approximately a year and a half. But what we are experiencing now in Iasi is actually what normality looks like: the movement of cultural property, the temporary export of our own cultural assets - to make ourselves known, as well as bringing to us works that represent the values of universal culture, as this exhibition does,' Demeter Andras told the press.


Alexandru Chituta, interim manager of the Palace of Culture - National Museum Complex 'Moldova' Iasi, believes that the 'Giotto in Iasi' exhibition is more than an exhibition: it is a 'historic triumph' and the result of an unprecedented partnership between Romania and Italy.


'Giotto has been brought to Iasi through an event of diplomatic excellence. 'Giotto in Iasi' is a unique, unrepeatable, once-in-a-lifetime event. I do not believe that during our lifetime this work will ever be brought back to Romania, given that, almost 700 years after it was created, the work is leaving Italy for the first time,' Alexandru Constantin Chituta said at the opening of the exhibition.

The exhibition, which runs until 30 October, marks an important milestone in strengthening the cultural and institutional ties between Italy and Romania.

'For me, it is a great honour to take part in and contribute to the organisation of this exceptional exhibition, which represents one of the most significant moments of the Italy-Romania Cultural Season 2026. When I was offered the possibility of bringing Giotto to Romania, I confess that I thought, 'It is not possible.' When this possibility was presented to me, I believed it would not be possible. Instead, thanks to the extraordinary work and cooperation between Italian and Romanian individuals and institutions, we managed to turn this idea into reality. It has been an extraordinary undertaking, which I have had the opportunity to follow personally and experience at various stages over these almost 12 months of activity in Romania as Italy's ambassador,' the Italian ambassador to Romania said during the opening.

Romanian and Italian officials, representatives of the cultural and artistic community from Iasi and across the country, as well as local authorities, attended the event.

Originally created for the city in the Emilia region during Giotto's stay there around 1330, commissioned by the papal legate, Cardinal Bertrando del Poggetto, Polittico is an extremely rare loan. The work has left Bologna only for a handful of exceptional exhibitions and has never previously crossed Italy's borders, making its presence in Romania a historic event.

The 'Giotto in Iasi' exhibition is open to the public in Iasi from 4 to 30 October. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniela Malache; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)

Photos: (c) ADRIAN CUBA / AGERPRES FOTO