A visitor takes photos of Pompeii relics. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

A cross-cultural exhibition titled Dialogue with Pompeii: Masterpieces from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples opened on Sept 30 at the West Lake Museum in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province.

The event marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy and the 20th anniversary of the museum's founding. It presents 115 rare artifacts from the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, many of which are on display in China for the first time.

Highlights include the fresco The Crowning of Aphrodite, noted for its delicate brushwork and vivid depiction of the goddess of love, and a marble statue of Clio, the muse of history, holding a scroll — symbolizing ancient Rome's reverence for knowledge.

The collection also features intricate glassware, pottery, and sculptures, which offer a glimpse into daily life in Pompeii before it was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

Founded in 1777, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples houses one of the world's richest collections of Greco-Roman antiques, including major finds from Pompeii. The city of Pompeii itself, frozen in time under layers of volcanic ash, is considered the most complete archaeological site preserving the urban life of ancient Rome.

The exhibition is also the result of deepening cultural exchange between Hangzhou and Italy. In 2019, Hangzhou and the Italian city of Verona established a friendly cooperation framework on World Heritage collaboration. In 2024, under the witness of both countries' leaders, a memorandum of cooperation was signed, followed by a Hangzhou delegation visit to Naples, which led to this exhibition's founding, said Pan Cangsang, director of the West Lake Museum.

The exhibition runs until March 8, 2026. Tickets can be reserved in advance through the museum's WeChat mini program.

A statue is on display at the Pompeii relics exhibition in Hangzhou. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]