HONG KONG (SE): On May 3, the Vatican’s museums reopened to visitors, with Covid-19 health protocols in place Vatican News reported.
This is the third reopening of the museums since they first closed on 9 March 2020, reopening on 1 June 2020 before shutting down again on 6 November 2020. They reopened on February 1 this year before having to close for a third time on March 15
However, the Museums have remained accessible through virtual tours offered free on its website at: https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html
Vatican News reported Barbara Jatta, the director of Vatican Museums, as expressing hope that the third reopening would be the final one. Speaking to Vatican Radio’s Alessandro Di Bussolo, she explained the security measures and a new feature in the museums.
“We reopen with a specific theme—security,” she told Vatican Radio, adding they are ensuring the security of visitors with measures to “beat the pandemic” such as thermal scanners, online booking only and managing the flow of visitors to avoid crowding.
The seven-kilometre-long museums of galleries, halls and corridors are ventilated with windows open to courtyards and gardens. “And so really, the security of our visitors is for sure one of our goals,” Jatta said.
