MUSEUM DIRECTOR: SISTINE CHAPEL THREATENED BY TOO MANY VISITORS

Rome - The Sistine Chapel's world-renowned frescoes are being threatened by smog, dust particles, and the humidity and warmth produced by ever more visitors, the director of the Vatican museums warned Friday in the L'Osservatore Romano newspaper.
The chapel has a filter system that is meant to assure clean air and constant temperatures in the Italian landmark, but its capacity has been exceeded, Antonio Paolucci said.
"Crowds, climate and smog" are the challenges that have to be tackled, he noted. A "de-dusting" undertaken during the summer break had revealed first alarming signs of the record visitor crowds.
Up to 25,000 visitors view the Sistine Chapel every day, amounting to some 4 million per year - with the numbers steadily rising.
The chapel, where popes are selected, is home not only to Michelangelo's iconic Last Judgement and Genesis paintings, but also to 12 Renaissance frescoes by Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli and Pietro Perugino.
Michelangelo laboured for four years - mostly lying on his back - on his frescoes, which are still considered his masterpiece.
The chapel's last major renovation lasted 15 years and ended in 1994.

ΠΗΓΗ: EARTH TIMES

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