The "2025 Osaka World Expo" officially kicked off last Sunday (April 13th), launching a six-month run that's already drawing massive crowds. With dedicated pavilions from countries worldwide, visitors are getting a taste of global cultures, and many priceless artifacts that would normally require expensive international travel are now on display right at the Expo.
Recently, netizens discovered that the Italian Pavilion at the Expo has brought the actual "Farnese Atlas" masterpiece to Japan! Not only is it free to view, but photography is also allowed throughout the exhibit. This revelation has sent waves of excitement across the internet, with many exclaiming, "This one pavilion alone is worth the price of admission!"
One X (formerly Twitter) user shared photos of the "Farnese Atlas" statue at the Italian Pavilion, declaring, "The Italian Pavilion is absolutely insane!" After all, this iconic piece usually resides at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy, and bringing the original to Japan is no small feat.
Upon seeing the live photos, many users gasped, "No way! Is this real?!" and "Isn't that the one I saw in Naples?" The original poster personally confirmed: "It's real."
This news immediately sparked a pilgrimage trend online. Comments flooded in like, "I wasn't planning on going to the Expo, but seeing this changed my mind!" and "The level of this is wild; being able to view it 360 degrees freely is like being in a national museum!"
However, not everyone fully grasped the statue's immense value. Some netizens drew a hilarious comparison to "Billionaire Silver," one of the Five Great Calamities from the Dark Continent in Hunter x Hunter. After all, from behind, the statue does look like a nude man carrying a giant sphere, making the resemblance surprisingly apt.
Beyond the Atlas statue, the pavilion also features Caravaggio's renowned masterpiece, "The Entombment," and, even more astonishingly, original sketches of flying machines penned by Leonardo da Vinci himself! This incredible lineup has sent excitement soaring again, with many exclaiming, "They practically moved Italy's entire cultural treasury here!"
Overall, Japanese netizens unanimously agree that the Italian Pavilion's exhibits are incredibly sincere and breathtaking. Comments range from "This isn't just an exhibition; it's a historical-level cultural artifact special!" to "They even allow free photography – Italy truly went all out." Transporting such priceless art to Japan speaks volumes about the deep trust between the two nations.
In fact, many other countries' pavilions are also incredibly impressive. Even those who were initially lukewarm about the Expo are now getting interested thanks to public shares and "pilgrimage" photos. If you're curious, definitely make time to visit Expo 2025 Osaka – it's like experiencing a world tour all in one go!
via： togetter