Barbara Jatta becomes Director of the Vatican Museums on January 1st, the first woman to head the huge museum complex. She has been at the museum for 20 years, and has been the Deputy Director.
Her appointment comes directly from the Pope, something no other museum director in the world can claim. She replaces Antonio Paolucci, an art historian and former Italian Culture Minister, who is retiring at 77. Jatta is 54.
The Vatican Museums, which includes the Sistine Chapel, has an incredible collection of artworks, spread out over four miles of hallways and galleries.
Photo: malouette/Flickr
