AMMAN — The Italian hill town of Assisi, renowned for its spiritual legacy and medieval charm, will welcome the international travelling exhibition “Jordan: Dawn of Christianity” on 4 July, following its successful debut at the Vatican earlier this year.

 

The exhibition will be staged at the Palazzo Monte Frumentario, a striking 13th-century structure overlooking the cobbled streets of Assisi. Once a granary and a hub of charity during the Middle Ages, the Palazzo has since been restored as a cultural venue, making it a fitting location to explore themes of spirituality, history, and pilgrimage, according to a statement from the Jordan Tourism Board.

 

This latest stop on the exhibition’s global tour is being held in collaboration with the Città di Assisi (City of Assisi), and holds particular symbolic and spiritual resonance. As the birthplace of Saint Francis of Assisi, revered for his teachings of peace, humility and interfaith understanding, Assisi has long been a destination for pilgrims and seekers of spiritual reflection. The town welcomes over five million visitors each year, drawn by its sacred heritage and serene landscape.

 

In 2019, His Majesty King Abdullah received the prestigious Lamp of Peace in Assisi, in honour of his steadfast commitment to peace, dialogue, and human dignity, values echoed in the legacy of Saint Francis and shared by the Jordanian people.

 

The exhibition’s arrival in 2025 is particularly meaningful, coinciding with the Catholic Jubilee Year, declared by the late Pope Francis under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”—a rare event held once every 25 years, encouraging believers worldwide to renew their spiritual journey.

 

Jordan’s participation underscores its central role in Christian heritage and its identity as a cornerstone of the Holy Land. The Hashemite Kingdom is home to some of the most sacred Christian sites in the world, and has long promoted interfaith coexistence. During his visit to Jordan in 2014, Pope Francis praised the country as “a model of peace” in the region and visited the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ on the eastern bank of the River Jordan, the statement said.

 

The exhibition offers visitors an immersive journey through Jordan’s Christian landmarks, many of which are officially recognised by the Vatican. Among the highlights is Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus is believed to have been baptised by John the Baptist, a site inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered one of the holiest places in Christendom.

 

Also featured at the exhibition are Mount Nebo, from where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land, the Church of Our Lady of the Mountain in Anjara, associated with the Holy Family’s passage through Jordan, Tell Mar Elias, believed to be the birthplace of the Prophet Elijah, and Machaerus, the dramatic hilltop fortress where John the Baptist was imprisoned and martyred.

 

Beyond its religious significance, the exhibition also seeks to promote faith-based tourism in Jordan. With its rich biblical history, the Kingdom offers a unique space where faith, culture, and history intertwine. Pilgrims and travellers are invited to experience Jordan not only as a destination of spiritual importance, but also as a meeting point of civilisations and cultures, the statement said.