Open the chest that keeps the secrets of Macedonia, which is known as 'the magical country of archeology' - the country which makes the world more beautiful, Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska said on Thursday at the opening of the exhibition "Ancient Terra-Cotta Figurines from Macedonia" at Montemartini Museum in Rome.

"In this impressive museum we are presenting part of the spiritual and religious richness and historical moments of the ancient period that influenced our cultural heritage. The exhibit presents only a small fragment of the cultural richness dating from all historical eras discovered at archaeological sites in Macedonia," Kanceska-Milevska said.

Nearly 200 terra-cotta figurines dating from the pre-Roman and Roman period are displayed at the exhibition, which runs till May 30.

PM Nikola Gruevski attended the opening of the exhibition, which was part of the ceremonies in Rome marking the Days of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, the Slavonic Enlighteners (May 24). Gruevski led a state and church delegation in Rome and Vatican on the occasion of the manifestation "Macedonia in Honor of St. Cyril".

A concert by opera singers Ana and Igor Durlovski, who performed pieces by Verdi, Handel, Mozart and by several Macedonian composers was also part of the ceremonies in Rome.