The Vatican is to take measures against the ticket touts that plague tourists milling around the Vatican Museums. "We're aware of the problem and we're determined to do something about it," said museum director Francesco Buranelli.
Touts get to the museum containing the Sistine Chapel at the crack of dawn and re-sell their tickets at inflated prices to tourists way down the line after giving them the impression they might not get in otherwise.
Buranelli added that museum authorities would also try to shorten lines.
He did not go into details on either point but said the Vatican had been in contact with Rome municipal authorities about the possibility of building a second underground entrance.
Buranelli was speaking at a press conference marking the first event of the 500th anniversary of the museums: the unveiling of a re-organised and re-dated PalaeoChristian Museum which will bring back into view the famed Aldobrandini Wedding room with its Guido Reni frescoes and ancient Roman murals.
