Vatican may have to limit visitors to Sistine Chapel
VATICAN CITY: As the Sistine Chapel celebrates its 500th
anniversary, the Vatican said Wednesday it may have to limit the huge
numbers of visitors because pollution is damaging Michelangelo’s
frescoes, one of the artistic wonders of the world.
The scenes, including the moment in which God reaches out and gives
life to Adam with the touch of his finger, are being damaged by the
breath, sweat and heat of the 10,000 to 30,000 tourists who walk through
the chapel every day.
The Vatican had an air-conditioning system fitted during restorations
in the chapel in the 1990s, but critics have warned that it is no longer
sufficient to deal with the amount of dust and dirt being dragged in by
today’s visitors.
Museums director Antonio Paolucci said a specialist company has been
asked to design a new air-purifying system -- but that if a solution is
not found by next year the Vatican will be forced to begin reducing the
number of tourists.
AFP
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