Vatican City, Jul 16, 2009 / 08:10 am
Following the example of other museums in Europe, the Vatican Museum will stay open to the public late into the evening on Friday, July 24.
The museum describes the special hours as an opportunity to “enjoy the sight of the sunset over St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Gardens from the Courtyard of the Cuirasses and from the windows of the Gallery of Maps.”
The Rooms of Raphael, Vatican Apostolic Library and the Sistine Chapel will also remain open.
The extended hours will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the last visitors being admitted at 9:30 p.m.
Visitors are required to book their tickets in advance at: http://mv.vatican.va/2_IT/pages/MV_Home.html.