Vatican Museums to install new vacuum systems to clean dust from visitors
(Dec. 27, 2012) The Vatican Museums will install new high-tech systems to remove
dust from visitors’ clothing, the director has announced. Antonio Paolucci said that
special carpeting will be placed near the entrance to the Sistine Chapel, to clean
the shoes of those entering. There will also be vacuum ducts on the walls to remove
dust from clothing and to combat the heat and humidity that endanger the frescoes.
The new equipment is an effort to prevent deterioration of the Michelangelo masterpiece
without restricting public access. Paolucci said that he is also working on the creation
of a “virtual tour” of the Sistine Chapel, which would allow people to see the artwork
from many different angles, while hearing a guide’s commentary on the frescoes. The
experience would not replace an actual visit, he stressed, but could give more people
access to the artistic treasures.