After 88 days, the longest closure since World War II, the Vatican Museums have reopened their doors – welcoming tourists to see some of Italy's most famous paintings, including Michelangelo's Last Judgment.

And they are not alone. Many museums, restaurants and bars have opened in 16 of Italy's regions as the country eases its COVID-19 restrictions. 

These regions have been classified as "low-risk," and have been given a "yellow" ranking, allowing some of the region's businesses to open as long as they close during the national curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time.

Another five regions have been classified as "orange," and are still under tight restrictions, meaning that restaurants are only open for takeaway and delivery and the museums are still closed.

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While Italy avoided most of Europe's post-Christmas spike in cases, it is still reporting between 300 and 600 COVID-19 deaths a day.

And some experts, including the World Health Organization, have called the decision to partially ease restrictions premature.

Roberto Speranza, the country's health minister, said that low-risk "does not mean that the danger is over."

Adding: "We still need the utmost caution if we don't want to reverse the gains made in the past weeks." 

Despite this warning, many are enthusiastic to see the museums, including Vincenzo Spina, a tour guide.

He told AFP he was visiting the museums "to rediscover a place that we haven't forgotten, but which had faded a little bit from our memory, and we want to make it alive again before our eyes."

The museums' director Barbara Jatta also said that staff used the forced closure to rearrange the exhibits, something that was difficult to do before the pandemic when they had 6 million visitors annually.  

Video editor: Nuri Moseinco.