Vatican Museums, Holy See's cash cow, to reopen from June 1

FILE PHOTO: A couple view a 16th century frescoe of Italy in the Vatican Museum's Gallery of Maps at the Vatican January 22, 2010. The maps in the gallery were commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII and depict all the regions of Italy and its principal cities at the time. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican Museums will reopen on June 1, the Vatican said on Saturday, ending a closure caused by the coronavirus lockdown that has drained the Holy See's coffers.

A statement said the Museums, which house some of the world's greatest Renaissance masterpieces as well as ancient Roman and Egyptian artefacts, can be visited from the beginning of June, though only by making on-line reservations in order to control the number of people.