A walk through Catholicism!! (Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel)

Member Name: Absy_Baby

Product:	Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Date:	21/08/09 (79 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing and eye opening

Disadvantages: Can get repetitive and loose interest in the spectacular

Sistine Chapel
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The Sistine Chapel was commissioned in 1475 by Pope Sixtus IV and this is where the name comes from too. It was designed for the Pope, as his chapel and is still used as today. The Papal elections also take place within the walls of the Sistine Chapel, and the important ritual of Conclave.

The entrance to the Sistine Chapel is not visible from the front (or what I call the front - St Peter's Square) you must walk round the walled state going right.

I would say the entrance is virtually half way round the entire state (so directly half way from the entrance at St Peters). I would call this the back. The entrance is quite large and seems purpose built for tourists. It is labelled Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums.

After queuing for 20 minutes we entered and queued to pay for our tickets. This cost 7 Euro's per adult.

Walking to the Sistine Chapel is quite far as you have to walk through many passages that include the Tapestry Gallery, this is great and you feel like you're getting your money's worth BUT I do find 20 corridors of very similar things boring (or dragged out), I mean yes the paintings and tapestries are amazing and intricately made or painted but really I've seen 100. I also know being human is to want to be 'top dog' but some of the stuff was disturbing, I know people have fought through the ages but paintings of grown men stealing and stabbing babies from women - is that art? Not in my book, I don't like looking at things like this, no matter who painted it.

After reading Angels and Demons I actually knew a fair bit more about the Sistine Chapel than my other half, we both had previously heard of it and he knew the paintings of Michelangelo were what made it famous, although I just assumed it was another holy room. I was not aware that this is the room where conclave took place and each new Pope was elected.

The Sistine Chapel is amazing and home to the famous painting of the twelve apostles by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, commissioned by Pope Julius II. Originally the ceiling was painted by Piero Matteo d'Amelia. Michelangelo was not happy about having to paint, he considered himself a sculpture and was working on the Popes tomb at the time. Lucky he did really take the opportunity to paint as it has ironically become his most famous piece. There are over 300 people in the work of art. Although this is one of the most spectacular pieces of art in the world today, Michelangelo suffered after 4 years of painting Michelangelo's eye sight was permanently damaged. This makes you really appreciate what it must have been like, stuck in the Sistine Chapel for 4 years, in dark, cramped conditions.

There are many tapestries and paintings to look out and it is a lot to take in.

Michelangelo was also asked back by Pope Clement IIV in 1534 to paint the Last Judgment on the alter wall. There are also tapestries on the walls designed by Raphael (for all you Angels and Demons fans), woven in Brussels in 1515-1519 then taken to the Vatican.

In the Sistine Chapel you are not supposed to talk (which is fine, except people do and the guards or workers shout at them to shut up) this completely ruins the atmosphere and totally lacks respect.

You are NOT allowed to take photos in here (and this is what gets me - why when told you are not allowed a picture, 10 people feel the urge to in fact defy the rules and take one?) This really annoys me as a tourism student I have learned a lot about preservation of these attractions and the reason you are not to take photo's is to preserve it, photo flashes very often affect paintings and colours so don't ruin it for the next generation by being selfish, if you want a picture in your album - google it and get an image. Rant over.

The Sistine Chapel is a must when visiting Rome and the Vatican, it isn't expensive, it's just a shame about the number of tourists, especially with all the corridors leading to the Sistine Chapel, you would think they would stagger entries. When I was in the Sistine Chapel it was over-crowded and ruined the experience a bit. I was more worried about treading on peoples toes than being able to fully appreciate the ceiling.

Summary: A must when you visit Rome and Vatican City