Vatican City, Jan 14, 2021 / 10:00 am
Vatican Museums are expected to reopen in February if coronavirus restrictions permit it, according to the museums' director.
Starting on Feb. 1, visitors are likely to be able once again to see masterpieces like Caravaggio's "The Entombment of Christ," the ancient Roman Laocoön sculpture, and the recently restored Raphael Rooms within the Vatican walls.
The Vatican Museums have been closed since Nov. 5, when the Italian government implemented tighter coronavirus restrictions, closing all museums in Italy. A draft text of a new decree expected to be announced on Jan. 15 contains a provision to allow museums to open in some regions of Italy.
Throughout the pandemic, the Vatican Museums have followed the Italian government's measures. During a national lockdown in the spring of 2020, the Vatican Museums were closed for a total of 12 weeks before reopening on June 1.