PEST CONTROL

Gianni Crea, the head key keeper (lat: clavigero) of the Vatican Museums.

> Photo: Alberto Bernasconi.

“There are 11 clavigeri (key keepers), divided in two shifts, one in the morning and one in the evening,” Gianni explains. “Every morning, I enter the Vatican through Porta Sant’Anna at 5:45 am and I go to the Vatican Gendarmerie to get the keys.” As soon as he receives the keys, the Gendarmerie disconnects the alarm system in the Vatican Museums and the clavigeri are now able to enter the Four Gates.

Each clavigero then heads to his assigned areas. Gianni says, “The Museums are divided into four zones and the keys are numbered in reference to the different areas of the Museums. Each clavigero opens around 80 doors.”