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.