Oman in focus at Italian show
An evening of the beautiful artistic event was held at the initiative of Baroness Ana Maria Norero, delegate of the Liguri nel Mondo - Tigullio Cultural Association, on the banks of the Ligurian Sea, offering some of the typical Ligurian dishes which were much appreciated by the participants. With authors Luca Moretti and Lucia Oliva (founders of the historical-cultural association Ludica Antiqua), the evening was witnessed by the Ambassador of Oman to Italy HH Sayyid Nizar bin al Julanda bin Majid al Said, Federico Messuti, Mayor of Chiavari, and Mario Menini President of the Association Liguri nel Mondo.
Oman in focus at Italian show
Titled 'The Tale of Venice and the Incense Route', it is the story of an ideal journey in search of perfection, narrated through the allegorical language of the tale (out of metaphor, a synthetic exposition of the antecedents of the entire artistic project).
It was presented as the world preview in Oman, the land of origin of frankincense, since the dawn of time, in Muscat, in the Bait Al Zubair Museum earlier under the auspices of Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture, followed by a grand show at the opening ceremony of the Venice Art Biennale, at the Omani Pavilion. Later in October, it was shown again in the Omani capital, at the National Museum, as a great continuation (epilogue). New events are under way in 2025.
Oman in focus at Italian show
It returned to the Omani capital, with a performance organised at the theatre of the National Museum on the occasion of the epilogue of the celebrations linked to the twenty-fourth Week of the Italian Language in the World.
'The Fairy Tale of Venice and the Incense Road' is a cultural allegory of a journey through time, in search of beauty. It was signed by Luca Moretti, content creator, event manager and a lawyer, along with Lucia Oliva and Luca Rajna, returning from the success achieved in Vietnam last September with 'The Legend of the Areca and the Lost Manuscript', presented at the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Italian consulate in Saigon.
"We are glad that it has been recognised as having high cultural value by Oman's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Ministry of Information, by the Italian Embassy in Muscat, by International Action Art and by the European Federation of Unesco Clubs," said Dr Luca Moretti.
The programme of the day in Chiavari included a theatrical conference that introduced two short films, one narrative and the other with photographic scenes and narration in verse partly taken from the Divine Comedy and partly inspired by it.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
14 hours ago
- Observer
Study urges action to preserve fading heritage
ON warm desert nights, when the air is thick with the scent of frankincense and the stars burn bright above the palm groves, Omani folktales come alive. They travel on the lips of elders, in the pauses between sips of kahwa, in the gentle rise and fall of voices telling of cunning foxes, enchanted trees, and lions turned to stone. These tales are not just entertainment — they are the memory of a people, stitched into words, passed from one generation's heart to the next. Yet today, those voices are growing faint. The steady hum of digital screens threatens to replace the crackle of fireside storytelling. Children are more likely to meet Cinderella than the Lion of Izki, to wander Little Red Riding Hood's forest before setting foot in the deserts or wadis of their own imagination. Fearing that this rich heritage might slip away, my colleagues, Fatema al Rubaiey and Gerard Dineen, and I — a research team at SQU embarked on a research journey to trace the fate of Omani folktales. With the generous support of SQU, we set out to answer a question that has grown more urgent with each passing year: are our stories still being told in their true voice, or are they slowly being reshaped, diluted, and forgotten in the rush of modern life? Using Hasan El Shamy's tale-type index, we examined dozens of Omani folktales published in English, tracing their origins, themes, and cultural markers. Many remained firmly rooted in the Omani landscape — stories of sacred places, tribal rivalries, and supernatural interventions that could only have been born here. 'The Lion of Izki' tells of a predator turned to stone through the power of faith. 'The Cunning Fox' reimagines the universal trickster with the sly resourcefulness of desert life. These narratives carry the scent of palm groves, the sound of falaj water, and the resilience of those who live between mountains and sea. But we also found tales altered beyond recognition or lifted from far-off lands: An Omani Cinderella and the escapades of Abu Nawas transplanted into unfamiliar villages. Even Little Red Riding Hood, far from her European forest, now roams Omani classrooms. Cultural exchange can enrich, but it becomes harmful when borrowed narratives crowd out our own. More troubling still, Omani folktales have no place on Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage. Without official recognition or a systematic approach to collecting and classifying them, they remain unprotected. This absence leaves space for foreign tales to dominate, while authentic Omani stories fade from memory. Our research calls for a dedicated Omani tale-type classification system — one that complements regional Arab indexes but preserves the details that make our stories uniquely ours: the falaj, the desert winds, the sacred coastal landmarks, and the wisdom woven into local proverbs. Preserving these folktales is not about nostalgia. It is about safeguarding the cultural DNA that tells us who we are. If we do nothing, an entire generation could grow up knowing more about the adventures of Western princesses than the heritage of their own ancestors. This is a call to educators, cultural institutions, and policymakers: gather these stories, teach them, and celebrate them. Let them live not as fragile memories, but as living voices shaping our future. The digital age gives us the tools to record and share them more widely than ever before. The question is whether we will use those tools before the last storyteller's voice falls silent. The writer is an Associate Professor of English, Sultan Qaboos University
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Jabal Akhdar Park to be inaugurated on August 18
Muscat - The Jabel Al Akhdar Park in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate will open on Monday (August 18), giving a boost to the Wilayat's tourism and entertainment infrastructure. The park project, located in the Seih Qatna area, is expected to become a major attraction for visitors and residents year-round, due to its integrated facilities that cater to the needs of various age groups. Sheikh Sultan bin Mansour al Ghafili, Wali of Al Jabal al Akhdar, said that the park is an important addition to the tourism landscape in the governorate. He pointed out that the project is being implemented at a cost exceeding RO1.1 million and covers an area of 20,000 square meters. It includes integrated recreational and service facilities, including a 1,000-square-meter children's play area, sports paths, and investment areas containing a café, a shop, and an area for electric games, in addition to prayer rooms and restrooms for men and women. He said that the park includes an open multi-use theater and green spaces covering an area of 5,000 square meters, which were prepared by planting 150 trees and 400 shrubs, in addition to a vegetation cover that enhances the aesthetics of the site, to be an integrated entertainment destination for family activities and community events. He emphasized that these initiatives are part of a comprehensive development drive that takes into account the principles of innovation, sustainability, and the promotion of Omani identity. He noted that the next phase will witness additional initiatives targeting investment in ecotourism, smart agriculture, and community services.
Muscat Daily
a day ago
- Muscat Daily
Oman to highlight tourism potential in Jaipur roadshow
Muscat – Ministry of Heritage and Tourism will hold a promotional workshop in Jaipur, India, on Monday as part of its efforts to strengthen the country's position in regional and global tourism markets. The workshop aims to highlight Oman's tourism assets, ranging from heritage and culture to adventure and wedding tourism, while promoting the sultanate as a safe and stable destination. Officials said the event will feature face-to-face meetings with leading Indian travel agencies, airlines and specialised media outlets. The sessions will focus on building partnerships and showcasing opportunities in sectors including cruise tourism, hospitality, and meetings and conferences. 'The Indian market is a priority within the ministry's promotional plan,' an official said. 'There is a growing demand for outbound tourism from India, supported by stronger cultural and economic ties between the two countries.' The programme will include visual presentations, publications, and interactive sessions led by Omani tourism representatives. Delegates from Omani tourism institutions will also hold business meetings with their Indian counterparts to present tailored packages designed for different traveller groups. In recent years, Oman has seen steady growth in tourist arrivals from India. Officials attribute this to easier visa procedures, improved air connectivity, and deeper cooperation between Omani and Indian companies in the travel sector. The campaign forms part of the ministry's broader strategy to diversify tourism markets and increase visitor numbers in line with Oman Vision 2040, which emphasises tourism as a driver of economic growth.
