|
Attendance appeared modest on the grand opening
day of the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim, which, with its
sweeping metallic curves reflecting the murky waters of the
Nervion River, is one of Spain's most recognizable structures.
Visitors must wear masks, while capacity has been reduced by
half and hand-sanitizing stations have been dotted at strategic
points around the cavernous structure.
A couple strolled through the cathedral-like atrium, with more
than enough space to maintain the requisite 2 metres safety
distance.
"We thought we'd make the most of there not being too many
visitors so we could enjoy the museum a bit more," said Imanol
Sierra as he waited outside with his two children.
Along with the rest of the country's museums and galleries it
has been closed since a state of emergency was declared in
mid-March.
But as the Basque Country progresses to the third stage of a
four-step easing plan, the centre has reopened, albeit with
several limitations.
"The first measure they will find is that we are taking
temperatures at the entrance," director Juan Ignacio Vidarte
said.
A masked cleaner meticulously wiped down the handrail of a
spiralling walkway as masked visitors approached an automatic
non-contact thermometre at the lobby.
"We're seeing that in this phase-out period people want to enjoy
what they used to do before and pick up their former hobbies,"
the museum's subdirector for communications, Begoņa Martinez
Goenaga, said.
"I hope people return to consuming culture in person like
before, as much as possible."
Madrid's landmark museums El Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina
Sofia are set to reopen on Saturday.
(Reporting by Vincent West; Writing by Nathan Allen; Editing by
Andrei Khalip)
[Š 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
