Vatican treasures coming to downtown St Petersburg

The Florida International Museum has announced that

Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Swiss Guard

will open February 9th and run through May 11th, 2008 at the Florida International Museum on 2nd Avenue North, just a half block from Baywalk. 

The exhibit will feature 200 items of art and historical objects, many of which have never left the Vatican in Rome. FIM opened its first blockbuster exhibit Splendors of the Czars in January 1995. Many people then asked,

        Why St. Petersburg?  

to which we replied:

        Why not?

The success of that show in a then sleepy downtown area is attributed by many to be the impetus for the blossoming of downtown St. Petersburg.

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