Troy and Rome. Myths, legends, stories of the ancient Mediterranean

From 12 June to 18 October 2026 the Colosseum Archaeological Park presents an exhibition that connects the world of Troy with the origins of Rome through archaeological finds, literary sources and historical-topographic reconstructions.

The exhibition brings together more than 300 artifacts from Italian and Turkish museums; supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it features over 220 works from 19 Turkish institutions, including about 50 items never before displayed in Italy. The layout opens with a monumental replica of the Trojan Horse and organises the visit along literary and archaeological lines to provide a comparative reading of myth and history.

The exhibition is organised in four main sections:

• Historical and topographic reconstruction of the site of Troy, with finds that illustrate Anatolian cultures of the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC.
• The Trojan War from the Trojans’ perspective, with a focus on the Homeric tradition.
• Aeneas’s journey through literary sources and archaeological evidence, with references to sites in southern Italy, Sicily and Lazio.
• The myth of Romulus and the foundation of Rome, up to the Augustan age and the consolidation of Aeneas’s saga.

In addition to the exhibition, the project includes research, outreach and enhancement activities designed to strengthen scientific cooperation between Italy and Turkey and to promote sustainable, high-quality tourism models.

Practical information

• Venue: Colosseum Archaeological Park, Rome
• Dates: 12/06/2026 – 18/10/2026
• Works on display: over 300 artifacts; more than 220 items from Turkey, ~50 shown in Italy for the first time

The exhibition proposes a coherent narrative that weaves together myth, legend and historical reality across roughly three millennia of Anatolian and Italic civilizations. For opening times, tickets and related programmes, consult the official channels of the Colosseum Archaeological Park.