Mona Lisa to Get Her Own Room as Louvre Plots Major 10-Year Makeover
2025-01-28
2025-01-28

The iconic Mona Lisa is about to get the star treatment she deserves. French President Emmanuel Macron has revealed plans for a major 10-year overhaul of the Louvre Museum in Paris, which includes giving Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece her very own room.

Dubbed the Louvre New Renaissance project, this ambitious renovation aims to modernize the world’s most visited museum, which has been struggling with overcrowding and aging facilities. Among the planned updates is a new entrance near the River Seine, set to open by 2031, and the creation of underground spaces to expand the museum’s footprint.

The Mona Lisa, currently displayed behind glass in the Louvre’s largest room, will move to a dedicated space accessible through a special ticket. This change is expected to make visits smoother for those eager to see the painting while reducing congestion in other areas of the museum. (Let’s be honest—no one wants to fight through a sea of selfie sticks to glimpse other masterpieces by Titian and Veronese.)

While Macron didn’t disclose the exact cost, estimates suggest the renovation could run up to €800 million ($834 million), funded by ticket sales, private donations, and earnings from the Louvre’s Abu Dhabi branch. Foreign visitors from outside the EU will also see a bump in ticket prices, currently set at €22 ($23).

The Louvre’s last major revamp was in the 1980s, when the iconic glass pyramid was unveiled. But with nearly 9 million visitors last year—three-quarters of them international—the museum is due for an upgrade, a point underscored in a recent warning from Louvre Director Laurence des Cars. She highlighted issues like water leaks, temperature fluctuations, and outdated facilities that threaten the preservation of priceless artworks.

The project promises not only to modernize the museum but also to create a safer, more comfortable experience for visitors and staff alike. So, if you’re planning a trip to Paris in the next decade, get ready to see the Louvre—and the Mona Lisa—in a whole new light.

Mona Lisa to Get Her Own Room as Louvre Plots Major 10-Year Makeover
https://www.99newz.com/posts/mona-lisa-louvre-renovation-2995
Author
99newz.com
Published at
2024-12-16
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CC BY-NC-SA 4.0