Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni returned home Thursday 31/7/2008 from Turin city, wrapping up a several days' visit to Italy during which he opened the renovated Egyptian Museum in Turin (Museo Egizio Di Torino).

On Tuesday 29/7/2008, Italian Culture Minister Sandro Bondi proclaimed 2009 as a year of the Egyptian culture in Italy. He also expressed keenness of both Italy and Egypt on activating culture agreements signed between the two countries.

For his part, Hosni said a major cultural ceremony will be held in mid-2009 to open the restored building of the Egyptian arts academy in Rome.

In statements Hosni said the ceremony will also mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the academy. The Egyptian academy is the only Arab facility among 17 foreign academies in the Italian capital, he said. The minister, described the academy restoration project as an architectural feat. For his part, the academy's director Ashraf Reda said that the project includes setting up a museum for Egyptian artifacts to be the first of its kind in Rome.