Italy made the decision to cover up some statues in a local museum on Tuesday in an effort not to offend visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Rouhani, who held a 40-minute visit with Pope Francis at the Vatican, also made a stop at Capitoline Museum, where nude sculptures that are typically on full display were covered up with white boxes in preparation for his arrival, CBS News reported.
Nude statues covered at #rome Capitoline museum for visit of #iran's #rouhani https://t.co/LTZ6j6SfYX via @Agenzia_Ansa
— JosephineMcKenna (@JosephineMcK) January 26, 2016The Iranian president was at the museum to meet with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
It was the prime minister's office that reportedly made the decision to cover up the statues, as the Capitoline Museum is managed by the government.
In addition to covering up the statues, wine was also removed from the menu at an official state dinner in Rouhani's honor. It is customary for many countries not to serve alcohol when Muslim leaders come to town, as Islam does not permit its consumption.
This is apparently not the first time that Renzi has ordered that statue be covered up in the lead-up to an Islamic leader's visit to Italy. When the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited Florence last year, a huge statue was also covered, according to the Local.
(H/T: CBS News)
