Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has been criticised by politicans and the public after ancient nude statues in Rome’s Capitoline museum were covered up to avoid any possible offence to the Iranian president who is visiting the country.

Hassan Rouhani is in Italy as part of a five-day tour in hopes of rebuilding Iran’s relationship with Europe after years of economic sanctions.

In another bid to please the Iranian president, wine was not served with dinner during his visit, due to Iran's strict laws over the consumption of alcohol.

France, which is Rouhani’s next stop on his tour is refusing to follow suit.

It’s believed up to €17 billion (£12bn) worth of deals have been signed in sectors ranging from energy to steel, says an Italian official.

Standing alongside Rouhani, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said:

Italian politicians across the board have said not only had Renzi made almost no reference to Iran's human rights record during a news conference, but had also "surrendered" Italy's cultural identity.

During the visit protests were held in Rome over Iran’s human rights proceedings. Iran has also been accused of funding militant groups in the past.

Rouhani who was elected in 2013, was originally set to visit Europe in November but cancelled the trip after the terrorist attack on Paris, which killed 130 people.

"We have always been in the front line against terrorism. We have to continue (cooperating with Italy) to secure a genuine peace in Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Libya," Rouhani said, speaking through a translator.

Rouhani is due to fly to France on Wednesday.