Lesser-known treasures of the Vatican

Jatta at the opening of a new exhibit of ceramic jars and other utensils used in a 17th century pharmacy at the Vatican. — Reuters

BARBARA Jatta, the first woman to head the Vatican Museums, wants visitors to avoid being suffocated by the crowds and take in the lesser-known – but spectacular – attractions she helps to oversee.

The Vatican Museums, a Unesco World Heritage Site that closed or limited openings during the Covid-19 pandemic, have almost returned to their pre-pandemic level of about six million visitors a year.