TURIN - A new collection at Turin's Egyptian Museum will be opened to the public Wednesday. The museum houses the largest and most important collection of Egyptian artefacts in the world outside Cairo.

The new exhibition is the result of a ten-year, public-private partnership that has invested 50 million euros to restore a large number of artefacts and put them on display.

Speaking at a press event to mark the opening, Minister for Culture Dario Franceschini spoke about the importance of attracting private investment and sponsorship to Italy's heritage. “It's proof that we can use investment in culture to create growth” he said. Mr Franceschini also spoke of the growing importance of Turin as a cultural and tourist hotspot:”Turin has become a model for all cities in Italy” he told reporters.

The Minister dismissed arguments questioning whether private funds should play a role in preserving our cultural heritage. But this is to be expected when the project was financed to the tune of 25 million euros by Italian bank Intesa San Paolo. In a similar vein, the Mayor of Turin, Piero Fassino, emphasized the expertise that private companies can bring to cultural projects. He praised the project for coming in on time and on budget - fact which makes it achievement in Italy.

The museum's collection is an interesting one and shows pieces from different epochs: from the Pre-Dysnastic era (4000 B.C) to the Byzantine era (700 A.D). The pieces shown map the human geography of the region and chart the development and evolution of civilization.

The objects on show range from everyday items like jewellery and pots to statues and examples of high art. Some artefacts, like the canopic jars and mummies, are quite grizzly. Others are more banal, but serve show the level of artistic sophistication held by the ancient Egyptians.

Together the pieces provide a fascinating insight into the psychology of the people who populated the Nile delta and the lives they led. Visitors will also find plenty of information about the collection itself as well as the work of the archaeologists, restorers and historians who have contributed to it over the years. One archaeologist, Ernesto Sciaparelli, crops up almost everywhere and comes across as a daring, Indiana Jones type of adventurer.

Given the huge scope of the exhibition it is perhaps not surprising that it falls a little flat in terms of narrative. Visitors are presented with plenty of information about the extraordinary array of objects on display and where they came from but are left none the wiser about the broader historical context to which they belong. That said, the collection is beautifully presented, 3D CGI videos keep proceedings lively and are a welcome addition to the traditional display cabinets and placards.

Last year the Egyptian museum saw a record 568,000 people pass through its doors, making it one of Italy's top ten museums and placing it among the top 100 in the world. With the new collection on display it is hoped that visitor numbers will continue to increase and the museum will have a role as one of the world's leading Egyptology centres.

The opening marks busy year for the city of Turin, and not just because of the Nearby EXPO in Milan. Currently European Capital of Sport, Turin will also host a public display of the Turin Shroud that will take place from April to June this year.