A Taiwanese woman on Sunday was injured by a small piece of masonry that fell from the dome of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican during a visit to the church.
The tourist, identified as Hsu Yun-chen (許芸禎), was struck on the forehead while she and her tour group were near Michelangelo’s sculpture Pieta.
Hsu was rushed to a hospital, the group’s guide to the church, Fu Jing, said yesterday.
Photo courtesy of Hsu’s tour guide via CNA
Hsu was found not to have serious injuries and was able to continue her tour as scheduled, Fu added.
Mathew Lee (李世明), Taiwan’s recently retired ambassador to the Holy See, said he met with Hsu and her group after the incident to express his concern.
The Vatican is Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Europe.
The tour group was scheduled to return to Taiwan from Rome yesterday, said Wang Chih-hung (王執宏), the group’s tour guide.
The incident was not the first time masonry has fallen from the church. According to local media, in March 2018, several pieces fell near the Pieta, but caused no injuries.
In 2017, a 52-year-old Spanish tourist was killed by falling masonry in Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence.
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