Vatican officials call Grime-Busters

Tourists face vacuum cleaners, cool-down periods

Vatican museum officials are taking steps to preserve Michelangelo's frescoes. 

Tired of lineups? Unfortunately, if you're planning to walk into the Vatican Museums soon to view the awe-inspiring artwork, be prepared for a longer wait. Officials are preparing drastic measures for those entering the Sistine Chapel.

The B.C. Catholic's Alistair Burns reports:

"Dust, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide are the great enemies of the paintings," said Antonio Palolucci, director of the Vatican's museums, to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

When gazing at Michelangelo's Last Judgment one doesn't see skin flakes or hairs, but Palolucci warns that the chapel's 20-year-old air-conditioning system cannot handle 20,000 tourists a day.

"We will install suction vents on the sides to suck dust from clothes, and lower temperatures to reduce body heat (from visitors)," he continued. A 100-metre-long carpet will be laid near the chapel's entrance to clean tourists' shoes.

Read the full article on The B.C. Catholic website.