What the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Vatican?
Sistine Chapel: Visiting Michelangelo’s Vatican Masterpiece
Sistine Chapel: Visiting Michelangelo’s Vatican Masterpiece
The Pope?
Saint Peter’s Basilica, from which the pope still gives his addresses?
The Vatican Museums and its unparalleled artistic collection?
For many, the answer is the Sistine Chapel.
Built in the last quarter of the 15th century, even in its own day the Sistine Chapel was one of world’s great wonders. The chapel was named after the pope who commissioned it, Sixtus IV (1414 – 1484), converting it from its former incarnation as the Vatican’s cappella magna (Great Fortified Hall).
Drawing inspiration from the Second Temple of Jerusalem, whose dimensions the Sistine Chapel is said to preserve, the chapel was designed so it could still serve as a fortification. Indeed, with tensions always bubbling away between Rome, the Medici Family in Florence and Turks threatening Italy’s west coast, the popes never knew when they might have to use it.
Few people know the name of the chapel’s architect, Giovanni dei Dolci, but everybody has heard of the Sistine Chapel’s main artist – Michelangelo Buonarotti. His famous frescoes of the Last Judgement and the ceiling’s biblical scenes are the main attractions that draw many multitude of visitors, rendering it one of the greatest artistic and architectural achievements on the planet.
Keep reading to discover all about it.
The structure of the Sistine Chapel was completed in 1481. It took the form we recognise today, with rectangular, six arched windowed walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling, but the interior did not quite match the splendour. The Sistine Chapel still needed a rich artistic programme to match its architecture.
This is where Florence's Renaissance Masters came in.
While most people think only of Michelangelo, his was not the only hand to leave a mark on the chapel. Other artists who painted its walls include Perugino, Pinturicchio, and Botticelli, whose Birth of Venus is one of the centrepieces of Florence’s
. But Michelangelo’s legacy has proved the most lasting, deservedly receiving the most amount of attention during any tour of the Sistine Chapel. From 1508 to 1512, Michelangelo worked practically single-handedly on the Sistine Chapel ceilings. Under the watchful eye of Pope Julius II, he toiled away, suspended hundreds of feet in the air, seeking perfection despite being a sculptor, not a fresco artist. Few can criticize the end result: Michelangelo’s achievement earned praise sung throughout the ages (with not one bit of controversy surrounding it).
Michelangelo painted the major biblical scenes in specific locations.
In the center, we find the Book of Genesis. Down the left side of the chapel (facing the altar), we find parts of the Old Testament, and down the right side we find scenes in the New Testament. The Last Judgment, another fresco by Michelangelo, covers the entire wall behind the altar.
Central to the ceiling decoration are nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, of which The Creation of Adam is the best known. Having an iconic standing equaled only by Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the hands of God and Adam have since reproduced countless imitations of Michelangelo's original work.
The complex design includes several sets of individual figures, both clothed and nude, which allowed Michelangelo to fully demonstrate his skill in creating a huge variety of poses for the human figure and which have provided an enormous book of models that have inspired artists ever since.
Remarkably, this was Michelangelo's first attempt at painting. But he mastered these skills quickly, as the central figure of Adam was completed in just four days, and God only took three.
In total it took Michelangelo from 1508 to 1512 to complete the 300 figures that trace the Biblical history of man before the coming of Christ. But there is much controversy over the recent restoration, where 500 years of dust and grease were cleaned away, and the vibrant colors restored.
The Vatican sometimes ornates the walls of the Sistine Chapel with the tapestries of Michelangelo's great rival,
. The intricacy of these stunning designs is matched only by the sublime
, another must-see attraction within the Vatican that we visit on our
.
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Saturday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Last Sunday of each month 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM CLOSED: 1, 6 January 11, 19, 22, 28 February 29 June 15 August 1 November 8, 26 December
Useful tips
. The best times to visit are in the morning before general opening or at night when the Vatican takes on an incredible, unique atmosphere. You can do this through our exclusive Sistine Chapel Tour with VIP Earliest Access. But if you’re more of a night owl, you can tour the Vatican by night once the crowds have dispersed.
Visiting the Vatican is truly a once in a lifetime experience. That’s why it’s important to go with a guide who can take you through the highlights and pick what’s best for you, whether on your own private tour or in the intimacy of a small group.
What is the Sistine Chapel used for?
Today, the Sistine Chapel still serves a few key purposes in the Vatican. The pope uses it as his own private chapel, and is the preferred site of various papal ceremonies. Most importantly, it is the seat of the Papal conclave, where the Vatican’s cardinals gather to elect a new pope whenever a vacancy arises.
Is there a Sistine Chapel dress code?
Make sure to cover your arms, shoulders, and legs covered when visiting the Sistine Chapel. Vatican guards are pretty strict on this and may refuse entry, so don't turn up wearing sleeveless shirts, blouses, or miniskirts (or if you do, at least bring something to wear over for the duration of your tour!)
How long does it take to visit the Sistine Chapel?
It depends! We usually recommend spending between 20-30 minutes soaking up the stunning beauty of Michelangelo's frecoes and the intricate wall paintings. On a private tour, however, you can spend as much or as little time as you want!
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