History and construction
The Sistine Chapel was built by Pope Sixtus IV between 1473 and 1481. It was intended for the private worship of the Pope and important church ceremonies. The architecture was designed by Giovanni de' Dolci, but its greatest fame was its decoration, which was done by important Renaissance artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino and Domenico Ghirlandaio.
Michelangelo's frescoes
In 1508, Pope Julius II commissioned the Michelangelo Chapel to be painted by the Pope. Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the chapel. The artist, who was best known as a sculptor, took on the task reluctantly but ended up creating one of the greatest works of art in history. Over the course of four years of work, he created monumental frescoes depicting nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the famous Creation of Adam, where the fingers of God and Adam almost touch.
Later, in 1536, Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the main wall of the chapel. The result was the Last Judgement, completed in 1541. This monumental scene depicts Christ as the stern judge and the souls who are either saved or damned. The work caused controversy due to the nudity of the figures, which led to later alterations obscuring some of the details.
A visit to the Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums and therefore cannot be visited on its own. Visitors must walk the entire route of the museums before reaching the chapel.
- Admission. Online booking is recommended due to long queues.
- Opening hours.
- Dress code: Strict dress rules apply - visitors must keep their shoulders and knees covered.
- No photography. This ban was originally linked to a contract with the Japanese television company Nippon Television Network, which funded the restoration work in exchange for exclusive rights to take photographs and videos. But it remains to this day.
Sistine Chapel today
The chapel is not only a tourist attraction but also an active religious space. Each new pope is elected here in a conclave, with the cardinals voting behind closed doors and announcing the results by smoke from the chapel chimney - black means a failed vote, white announces the election of a new pope.
The Sistine Chapel is undoubtedly one of the most important works of the Renaissance and continues to captivate millions of visitors today with its artistic and historical value.
