Some doors take time and effort to open, especially if they are meant to take you to cloud nine. An eight-ton gilded bronze door Michelangelo dubbed the "Door of Paradise" is due to be unveiled after 27 years of restoration work.

´Instead of going back to where it originally hung - the baptistery of Florence`s Duomo - Lorenzo Ghiberti`s 15th Century masterpiece featuring scenes from the Old Testament, will go on display at the Museo dell`Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore.

It`s hoped the relocation could help preserve it from damage.

During World War II, the "Door of Paradise" was removed from the baptistery to spare it from damage. However, the historical object was damaged by the muddy waters of the Arno River during the flood that devastated Florence back in 1966. Six of its ten panels were ripped away by the force of the flood. The panels were re-attached, but failed to cope with pollution over the course of time.

In 1990, a copy of the "Door of Paradise" had to replace the original which was sent off for restoration.

Image from www.beniculturali.it
sections: Culture