The Farnese Atlas, a monumental marble sculpture weighing nearly 20 quintals and standing about 2 meters tall, will be the centerpiece of Italy's cultural representation at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
This will be the first time the sculpture, part of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples' collection, travels to Asia.
It will be prominently displayed in the semicircular Piazza of the Italian Pavilion, whose design is inspired by the Renaissance Ideal City, crafted by Mario Cucinella of MCA Architects.
The announcement was made by Mario Vattani, Italy's Commissioner General for Expo 2025, during a press conference aboard the historic Amerigo Vespucci ship, which is currently in Japan before heading to Darwin, Australia.
The event also served to introduce key projects and events that will feature in Italy's participation at the Expo, including a series of daily live events and activities related to the maritime world, a significant cultural link between Italy and Japan.
On July 21, 2025, a dedicated day for the 'Blue Economy' will take place, attended by Italy's Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, Nello Musumeci, along with a delegation of universities, research institutes, and marine industry enterprises.
The Blue Economy, which emphasizes sustainable ocean resource use for economic growth, will be a focal point, promoting sustainable fishing, maritime trade, renewable energy, and eco-friendly tourism.
The conference also highlighted the interconnectedness of the Blue and Space Economies, as noted by Valentino Valentini, Italy's Deputy Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy.
He emphasized the importance of Italy-Japan collaboration for maritime security, especially given current geopolitical challenges like navigation issues in the Red Sea.