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Amidst Rome's magnificent attractions, this particular treasure is widely hailed as one of the city's greatest, Sistine Chapel at the Vatican City is a beguiling attraction that will leave you mesmerized. This 15th century Sistine Chapel, located in the Vatican Museums, is the official residence of the Pope and houses all important conclave meetings. Hence, the Chapel holds remarkable significance both for the people of Catholic faith and those who love art. It is a rectangular brick building with six arched windows and an unassuming exterior. The architecture is not what is so splendid about Sistine Chapel Rome but it is the gorgeous interiors adorned with attractive paintings.Known popularly as Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is its major highlight. The impressive ceiling of the Chapel is ornamented with enticing frescoes by Michelangelo which illustrate the stories from the Bible. The painting of The Last Judgement, on the altar behind the walls, fascinates the visitors who stand in awe gazing at this beautiful magnum opus by Michelangelo. The side walls of the Chapel are equally important with stunning artworks by the early renaissance artists. You can spot paintings about Jesus and Moses on the northern, southern and eastern walls that extend till the Sistine Chapel Entrance.


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Sistine Chapel Highlights

Sistine Chapel Highlights
  • Visit the majestic Sistine Chapel Rome which is the official residence of the Pope.
  • Witness and marvel at the beautiful fresco painting drawn by Michelangelo illustrating the Last Judgement which covers the entire altar on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
  • You can also view the artworks depicting the life of Moses and Christ on the walls of the Chapel sketched by famous renaissance artists like Perugino, Pinturicchio and Ghirlandaio.
  • Take a tour around the other rooms in the Vatican Museum including Stanza della Segnatura, Stanze di Raffaello and The Vatican Pinacotheca.


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The Sistine Chapel Ceiling
The Sistine Chapel Ceiling

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, which is the iconic feature of the Chapel, looks like a flattened barrel arch that has been cut diagonally by smaller vaults. The ceiling is adorned with gorgeous fresco artworks painted by Michelangelo at the command of Pope Julius II. Painted between 1508 and 1512, the frescoes found on the Sistine Chapel Ceiling and on the west wall behind the altar are:- Nine central stories from the Genesis - The Last Judgement- Twelve Prophets and Sibyls- Salvation of the people of Israel on the four corner Pendentives


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 The Last Judgement
The Last Judgement

The Last Judgement is a magnificent painting by Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel ceiling that was carried out between 1536 and 154. The painting features the figure of Christ at the centre, next to which is the figure of Mary around whom the Saints including St. Peter, Set. Sebastian, St. Laurence, and St. Bartholomew are painted. The lower part includes the paintings of the angles of the Apocalypse and the risen who are trying to recover their bodies as they ascend to heaven.


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The North Wall of Sistine Chapel
The North Wall of Sistine Chapel

The North Wall represents paintings about the Story of Jesus distributed over eight panels. The frescoes portray- Baptism of Christ- Temptation of Christ- Cleansing of the Leper- Vocation of the Apostles- The Sermon on the Mount- The Delivery of the Keys- The Last Supper

You can also see paintings about the Agony in the Garden, the Arrest of Jesus, and the Crucifixion beyond the windows in the North Wall. The cycle ends with the resurrection of Christ on the entrance wall.


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The South Wall of Sistine Chapel
The South Wall of Sistine Chapel

The South Wall is decorated with paintings depicting the story of Moses which consists of eight panels. However, the first fresco portraying the Birth and Finding of Moses by Perugino was found lost. The altar on the south wall consists of the paintings about- Moses Leaving to Egypt- The Trials of Moses- The Crossing of Red Sea- Handing over the Tablets of Law- Descent from Mount Sinai- Punishment of the Rebels- Testament and Death of Moses


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History of Sistine Chapel

The construction of Sistine Chapel commenced in the year 1473 by Pope Sixtus IV over the site of an existing medieval chapel. The crumbling remains of the old chapel were removed and the interiors underwent several renovations and adornment. Originally known as Cappella Magna, the Chapel was later renamed as Sistine Chapel taking its name from Pope Sixtus IV who built it. The walls of the Sistine Chapel were decorated with beautiful fresco paintings about the life of Moses and Christ. Renowned renaissance artists of the time including Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Perugino, Rosselli and Pinturicchio came together to create these striking artworks on the eastern, northern and southern walls which were completed by 1482. The ceiling was then painted like a blue night sky full of stars. But, the star-filled ceiling was later repainted in 1508 by Michelangelo as per the instruction of Pope Julius II. Michelangelo sketched the ceiling with gorgeous fresco paintings which portray the mythical stories from the Bible from 1508 and 1512. He again came back during 1535 to 1541 to draw his masterpiece, The Last Judgement under the patronage of Pope Clement VII and Paul III.


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Know Before You Go

Timings
How to Reach
Rules and Regulations
Timings

Operating hours:- Monday to Saturday – 9 AM to 6 PM

The last admission to Sistine Chapel closes at 4 PM. - During April to October, the closing time is extended till 10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and final entry is accepted till 8:30 PM.

  • The Sistine Chapel timings on the last Sunday of every month is from 9 AM to 2 PM with the last entry closing by 12:30 PM.


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Sistine Chapel FAQs

Why is the Sistine Chapel so famous?

    The Sistine Chapel is one of the proudest features of the Vatican City that is highly famous for its beautiful renaissance artworks by painters like Botticelli and Rosselli. The Chapel is also popular for the breathtaking fresco paintings on the ceiling by Michelangelo which depict the tales from the Bible.

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Is there a dress code for the Sistine Chapel?

Can you take pictures in the Sistine Chapel?

Who painted the walls of the Sistine Chapel?

Who is buried in the Sistine Chapel?

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