“Jordan – Dawn of Christianity” – The historic Italian city of Assisi prepares to host the exhibition
An exhibition in Assisi highlights the sacred Christian sites of Jordan. An initiative aimed at building a cultural and spiritual bridge in conjunction with the 2025 Jubilee
The international traveling exhibition “Jordan: Dawn of Christianity” will arrive on July 4 at the Palazzo Monte Frumentario in Assisi. It mark its second major stop after its successful debut at the Vatican earlier this year.
Organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Assisi, the exhibition will be held in the Palazzo Monte Frumentario, a 13th-century building. Once it was used as a granary and now restored as an important cultural center. The venue, located in the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, was chosen for its profound historical and spiritual resonance.
With over 5 million visitors per year, Assisi is renowned for its religious significance and its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hosting this exhibition highlights the growing cultural and diplomatic ties between Jordan and Italy, strengthened by the awarding of the Lamp of Peace to King Abdullah II in 2019 – right in Assisi – in recognition of his commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue.
The Context: The Holy Year 2025
The exhibition’s opening coincides with the 2025 Jubilee, proclaimed by Pope Francis under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” a Holy Year celebrated by Catholic tradition every twenty-five years.
“Jordan: Dawn of Christianity” showcases five major Christian pilgrimage sites located within Jordan’s borders. Among the highlights of the exhibition is Bethany Beyond the Jordan, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and identified by the Vatican as the site of Jesus Christ’s baptism.
Completing the spiritual journey are:
- Mount Nebo,
- Our Lady of the Mountain Church in Anjara,
- Tell Mar Elias,
- Machaerus, where, according to historical sources, John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed.
The exhibition aims to promote Jordan as a premier destination for religious tourism, building on the legacy of Pope Francis’s 2014 visit to Bethany (the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ) and reinforcing Jordan’s role within the broader Holy Land.
This exhibition reflects Jordan’s dedication to sharing its Christian heritage with the world. By presenting these sacred sites to an international audience, it invites visitors to discover the spiritual richness and historical depth that only Jordan can offer.
Thus, the exhibition becomes a cultural and spiritual bridge, fostering mutual understanding and embodying the same spirit of peace and dialogue that St. Francis has symbolized for centuries.
The project stems from a joint initiative between Jordanian cultural institutions and international partners, supporting broader efforts to strengthen religious tourism and cultural diplomacy across the region.
After its inaugural stop in Assisi, the exhibition will continue its journey to other international venues. All visitor information and the full exhibition schedule are available at https://mostragiordania.com.
