The Vatican museums reopened on the 1st of February after a second shutdown due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
The museums were shut for 88 days due to the second wave of coronavirus that hit Italy in early November, forcing theatres, cinemas and museums to be closed to the public.
According to the Director of the Vatican museums, the period was used for renewing and maintenance work.
This phase of reopening, however, is likely to see lesser visitors compared to the first phase due to the restrictions. In 2020, the Vatican museums and the Villas of Castel Gandolfo saw just 1.3 million visitors in contrast to almost 7 million in 2019.