Cappella Sistina

What an incredible experience! So beautiful and completely unrivaled, it’s amazing to think of how much work and talent Michelangelo had. A must see if you’re in Rome.
Buy tickets online ahead of time and dress appropriately! They don’t really check dress code but why risk it?

Yes, it sucks that you can’t talk in here or take photos. Yes, it may be overcrowded with tourists. But you know what, I’m giving it 5 stars anyways: P
Michaelangelo spent over a decade between the frescoes on the ceiling (Biblical scenes) & the wall above the altar (last Judgement). That alone deserves 5 stars. He was a sculptor who was commissioned by the Pope to paint frescoes for the chapel. You can’t say no to the Pope so poor Michaelangelo had to paint the frescoes little by little for years, culminating into what you see now before your eyes. Honestly, I didn’t even have words to describe how amazing his work was when I stepped foot into the Sistine Chapel & looked up. So much to see & just not enough time (20 minutes since we were in a tour group). It’s too bad you can’t lay on the ground & just gaze at these amazing pieces of art all day. I’d totally do that. If you didn’t know, this is the chapel where the next Pope is elected as well. Cool, huh?
ADVICE: Come with a tour group so you get in an hour earlier than the general public. It was breatheable & clmfy while we were in the chapel. Much more enjoyable than when the herd of people come storming in an hour later.
NOTE: It IS a chapel so please wear appropriate clothing. Cover your shoulders, knees & feet. Be sensible & abide by the church’s rules!
If you are an art lover, you definitely have to see the Sistine Chapel. Even if you aren’t, I think it’s something you should do when you’re in Vatican City. I mean, how can you skip it when you’re already there? Just go & enjoy the masterpiece that Michaelangelo has left behind for the world :)

La chapelle Sixtine vaut vraiment le coup d’oeil. Les détails des fresques m’ont laissé sans voix, malgré le nombre de touristes très importants, et les rappels incessants sur l’interdiction de prendre des photos. Seul bémol d’une superbe visite qui clôture celle du musée du Vatican.

The Sistine Chapel was beautiful! I don’t like paintings much, but I really enjoyed the paintings in the Sistine Chapel. I recommend downloading a guide thay explains each painting. Seeing the paintings in person is so much different from seeing the paintings in a picture. You are not allowed to take any photographs of the paintings while in the Sistine Chapel and you will get yelled at if the security catches you.

Well, I finally got to see the Sistine Chapel and quite frankly, I expected something more majestic and grander. Don’t get wrong. The wall and ceiling paintings by Michelangelo were phenomenal and extraordinary. But something didn’t strike me here as it did when I saw the frescos in the Santa Maria Cathedral or the Vasari paintings in Palazzo Vecchio in Firenze. Maybe the ceilings weren’t high enough? Or was I just getting tired of seeing paintings in general? Either way, visiting the Sistine Chapel is like the rite of passage once you step foot into the Vatican City. It’s pretty much the end of goal for many. But for me, it was a bit anti-​climactic. Then you also have to deal with the crowd and the constant hushing and «silencio» from a guy on a microphone, who kept telling us to be quiet and not to take any pictures. Do they realize that with technologies these days, it’s so easy to sneak in a picture or two? I saw so many people taking bottom-​up selfies, it’s quite hilarious. That’s when you can really forgive your double chin.

2.5 (rounded up so I don’t get struck down)
Ugh! People! Look what you’ve made me do! Your crassness made me experience an unforgiving mass of humanity that took away from the beauty and divinity of the building. God — 5 stars. Man — 1 star (as usual).
This is why we can’t have nice things. The dénouement of the Vatican Museum is the Sistine Chapel. It’s what everyone walks the miles and miles of corridors like mad cows to get to. It could and should be a refreshing glass of cold water on a hot day. It should be the bee in your bonnet. Perhaps, for some, it is. It was not for me. I couldn’t separate the art and divinity from the people.
1.) You’re crushed in with a ridiculous number of people. Rather than allocating a certain amount of time for a certain amount of people to enjoy the CHAPEL, the throngs of folks never stop coming so there’s no relief from the crush of the crowd. Ever. Looking up to gaze at the marvel? Oops. You just got shoved. Keep it moving. Not solemn. Not holy.
2.) The guards are incredible rude. I am sure they see themselves less as guards and more as herders (not shepherds). And as herders, their mission is to push push push the crowd to where they want them to go (not to where the crowd wants to go). I’m surprised that they don’t make a habit of slapping tourists silly and then going to St. Peter’s for forgiveness. I would. Truly, I can’t be too hard on the guards because…
3.) The people. Dear God, the people. First off, you’re at a holy site. Don’t dress disrespectfully. You’re told this over and over but yet you’ll see flip flops, short skirts, straps, tank tops, and the like. DOES NO ONE KNOW HOW TO DRESS FOR CHURCH SERVICE? I wish the guards would bar entry to these idiots. That would, certainly, help with the crowds because no one knows how to follow any rules. Is it too much to ask that you shut the [redacted; please forgive me] up and not talk? Is it too much to NOT TAKE ANY PICTURES? This is why the guards are crabby. They’re continually telling people to shut up and stop taking pictures. It’s rude. It’s disrespectful. It’s crass. Your surreptitious photos aren’t cute. They’re gross and they reveal you to be the worst kind of selfish, self-​absorbed person. Congrats. People like you ruin it for everyone. I hope that blurry photo was worth it. Dummy. Just seeing them in this listing aggravates me. How hard is it to be respectful and think of other people?
Do you see? This. All of this… got in the way of what I so wanted to be a transformative, holy experience. As it was, I scowled past the idiots trying to take selfies and acting put out that the guards attacked them (they should have been escorted out of the building), tried to center myself, found *the* image, contemplated it, and then remembered to leave out the group exit. Thanks, folks!
People: ruining things since the Garden of Eden.

This was by far one of my favorite places in Rome. We got a late start and arrived just before noon. As we walked up to the entrance we were approached by a man selling tours. The line was long and he sold us on taking the tour.
We paid $ 100 Euro a piece and it was worth it. Getting to skip the line was almost worth it in itself. This also included our admission in. The tour guide was from Rome and was very knowledgeable and friendly. She made the experience even better. After touring the Vatican City we arrived at the Sistine Chapel last. You aren’t suppose to talk or take photos while you are inside. I was able to sneak a photo without being caught. People were talking and the security was quick to hush them. It’s hard to take in all the beauty of it with so many people in there and plus it is high up on the ceiling. Still, it was an amazing experience.
After you exit the Sistine Chapel you get to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Now this place was absolutely enamoring. I’ve visited some really nice churches, but this one tops the list. It is incredibly large and everything inside is so pristine. Truly an epic experience.
All in all, this was one of the best places in Rome to visit. Definitely a must see.

We ended out Rome trip with a tour of Vatican City and the beautiful Sistine Chapel. There are tours available that start early (7:30am), which allow you for more of a private and quiet time in the Sistine Chapel before its opened to the public. We did the 9:30am tour and by the time we got to the Sistine Chapel, it was a mad house. Add in the fact that it was Good Friday and word was spreading that the Sistine Chapel was closing early, it was pretty busy!
I actually enjoyed how simple it looks from the outside and how there’s no grand entrance. You make a turn from a hallway and bamn you’re inside. We had our tour guide quietly explaining to us what to look for so that was helpful. Every 5 mins or so, you would hear from the speakers about no talking and no photos. But the noise and picture taking starts up again after 10 seconds.
I’ve seen the pictures from the history books and movies, but to actually see it in person is something else. It makes you appreciate the history that much more.

I’ve heard of this place that has a marvelous painted ceiling, and also the location from where they choose the new pope. I’ve seen the smoke on TV. I’ve seen the insides on TV. I’ve Google Earth’d the place numerous times, asking my spouse, «Is this the building??»
Finally, I had a chance to see it in person. Twice actually, two years in a row. We didn’t pre-​buy our tickets, but stood in a not-​too-​bad of a line and got tickets for the following day. The tickets gave us access to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
The museum building is where you enter, with the Sistine Chapel far, far, far down the line, and ending with St. Peter’s and the Square. If you actually want to see and experience everything, you’re going to need several days in there. For us, all that mattered was the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s. So, we basically breezed through the museum part which is very overwhelming, with tons of artwork, sculptures, frescos, you name it. I don’t have the patience to go through everything and read tiny little signs with herds of tourist on your back.
You arrive at a very non-​descript door in a plain hallway. You’re thinking… Really? This is it? No grand entrance? But, once the doors open, the ceiling soars to the heavens, the music in your head automatically starts playing that harmonious heavenly hum, and everyone walks in, mouths open, eyes pointed up, walking around like zombies. The room is divided by a short half wall and gate, not sure why. There are benches along the perimeter to sit in awe. Frescos cover every square inch of the walls and ceiling. Goose bumps start appearing on your entire body. The crowd starts to murmur only to be quieted by security through a piercing and echoing «Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!» Some start to take photos which are strictly forbidden, and a loud, authoritative voice bellows «NO FOTOS!!! NO FOTOS!!!» Be discreet, people?! Do a selfie snapshot from belly height while you hide in between others for crying out loud! LOL. Do several just in case. I’ve come to the conclusion that the Italians do not like photo ops in their places of historic & priceless value, which is the total opposite in France.
Time inside is unlimited, so soak it all in.

I spent half the time avoiding tour groups by either speeding past them or sneaking my way through the crowds of them. But, it’s worth it in the end! Please don’t spend all your time taking photos of every room. It’s much better to experience this if you’re fully present. Sistine chapel tips: 1) prepare to be in a stuffy room 2) you have to be absolutely silent. someone will SHUSH you 3) no pictures. though you’ll see people try 4) ooooh and ahhh at what Michelangelo created.

Our second day in Rome began in Vatican City with a tour of the Museum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. We paid for a group tour through the Vatican Museum rather than a third party vendor, which turned out to be a good choice. Our guide was knowledgeable and funny. At 37 euro each for the tour, it was a bit pricey, but the 3 hour tour was a great review of the highlights so I don’t feel like I need to go back again.
The Sistine Chapel was the final stop on our guided tour. Since you’re not supposed to talk or take pictures in the Chapel, our guide gave us some information and context at the beginning of the tour. For example, Michelangelo was tricked by Pope Julius II into accepting the commission to paint the Sistine Chapel. He was a sculptor and architect, did not consider himself a painter, and was not interested in painting the Chapel. He actually went blind after 4 years of paint dripping into his eyes. The fresco of God’s butt on the ceiling may have been Michelangelo’s way of sticking it to the Pope.
Michelangelo had previously depicted the Pope’s Master of Ceremonies as Minos of the underworld in his fresco of the Last Judgment even giving him donkey ears after he called the painting disgraceful because of its nudity. Another painter was later commissioned to add underwear to the figures and would forever be known as «braghettone», or «britches».
Our group spent about 20 minutes in the Chapel admiring the famous frescoes before wrapping up our tour. My friend and I stopped by the gift shop at St. Peter’s Basilica to buy some keepsakes before heading for a bite to eat inside Vatican City. I would recommend going early because the crowds were growing as we were leaving around noon.

The artwork in here is amazing. There’s just so much of it. You HAVE to visit the Sistine Chapel if you’re in the Vatican or in Rome. Michelangelo’s famous Creation of Adam (where Jesus is touching Adam’s finger) is housed here, and it’s simply amazing. There is just so much artwork, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed by it all. Buy your tickets online to avoid the line, and definitely, definitely, definitely visit!

This place WILL take your breath away. It’s quite overwhelming to go in though. The entire room is packed with people and you kind of getting shuffled along so don’t have a lot of time to really stop and admire the walls and ceiling. You’re also not allowed to take photos, they really patrol that and will make you delete photos if they see you taking one. I also found it hard to stomach how extravagant it is in comparison with the homeless people sleeping outside the gates. Nevertheless, it’s a truly spectacular sight to see.

Quel lieu magnifique … Aucun superlatif né serait assez fort pour décrit cet endroit. La Chapelle se visite en même temps que le musée du Vatican. À faire absolument !!!

To me, the Sistine Chapel is the holy grail of the Vatican. Unfortunately, I didn’t prepare myself and became to concerned with the moving crowd rather than taking in the history.
From the moment you walk in, you’re being shuffled along hundreds of other people bumping into you, cutting you off and so on. As soon as I entered, I just wanted to leave because of the mess that was in there which was really disappointing.
But from the few minutes I spent looking around, it truly is something breathtaking. To think that this was all painted by one man and took over four years to complete is mind boggling. Regardless of your religious views, this is something everyone should see in their lifetime. I just wish the Vatican would limit the amount of people inside at one time, maybe even do 15 minute blocks between viewings.
I would also recommend to research what you want to see the most before entering, that way you’ll know where to look and won’t miss it, such as the Creation of Adam and small blocks that weren’t cleaned off.

Remaining silent in the Sistine Chapel wasn’t a struggle for me, because I was stunned beyond words. This place is incredible, and really made me go WOW in a way I’ve only felt a handful of times before.
To see God reaching out his hand, giving life to Adam, as painted by Michelangelo really made me speechless. So did everything I caught sight of; it is all just so beautiful. The huge wall depicting judgement day is wonderful too. I feel like no matter how long you looked at it, you could always catch sight of something new, or notice something which stands out to you in a way it hadn’t before.
It’s really crazy to try and comprehend that the ceiling was painted between 1508 and 1512. It is just bursting with grandeur and skill, and the detail in the emotions of those both dragged to hell and ascending to heaven on that fateful day
is particularly impressive.
Follow the no camera rule and don’t spend the duration trying to take one blurry picture; take as much of it in as you possibly can and you’ll get the most full experience, and the best memory.
This was the highlight of Rome for me, and a memory I cherish from my time in the city.

Breathtaking.
Yes, we’ve all seen pictures in our history books. We’ve read about it in school. I heard others who had visited rave about its beauty.
I had no idea what I was in store for till I entered the room myself. It’s huge! The artwork is amazing. Words cannot even describe how in awe I was. So much thought, hard work, patience, dedication was put into these paintings. What a gift Michelangelo possessed. Absolutely humbling experience. I felt like an ant in here. My eyes glued to the ceiling in amazement. I highly recommend reading a book or some online information on the different frescoes before coming here, you will have a greater understanding of what you are looking at. There is a lot going on here.
Signs and the security inside will remind you NO PHOTOS once you enter. Also, they will ask you to take off your hat if you are wearing one. It is to be completely silent in here. So you will also hear security saying «Shhh» every few mins. I was able to sneak in a few pics by keeping my phone near my waist and putting my camera on selfie mode: P A gentleman beside me taught me that… lol. Do be careful though, if the guards catch you taking pics, they will kick you out. It’s packed in here and so you will be shoulder to shoulder with others. Always keep your belongings close to you and within sight, especially in crowded areas. They limit your timing here, probably a good thing since I’d be in here all day if I could.
One of the highlights of visiting the Vatican!

Located inside the Vatican Museum you will eventually, while traversing the many galleries, make your way here.
The Michelangelo is as amazing as you have heard or seen and books and must be viewed if you are in Rome. It is surreal to stand here and ponder the politicking of the Conclave and how many influential people went on to become Pontificus Maximus in this room.
Only downside is it is super crowded, you are not able to take pictures and are rushed through. Still, a must see as there is always constant chatter that, due to the numerous crowds that visit it daily, that they will one day limit access due to the ongoing damage to the frescoes.

For me, The Sistine Chapel was the highlight of my visit to the Vatican. It was named after Pope Sixtus who began its restoration in 1475.
Michaelanglo painted the ceiling and walls during 1509 – 1512 and when you see the ceiling in person, it truly is breathtaking!
Remember, no photos, or at least be sneaky about it. The guards may catch you and ban you for life!

My walk through the halls of the Sistine Chapel was like a journey through the the Renaissance. Pieces of art work that had transformed Europe — the same ones that propelled the continent into the cultural nucleus of the world that it is today– were literally surrounding me on all sides. I can sit here and pretend that the each brush stroke stimulated my artistic senses. I can lie and tell you that painted portrayals of Christianity awakened my spirituality. Regrettably, that was not the case. In fact, I was bored by the third corridor of the chapel.
But the promise of Michelangelo’s masterpiece urged me on. The Creation of Adam is painted on the ceiling of the last room, and so I rushed past many Renaissance treasures in my pursuit of the masterpiece. It’s legendary reputation was the carrot stringed to a stick and I was the donkey chasing mindlessly after its allure.
And like the donkey that I was, I couldn’t fully appreciate The Creation of Adam, the masterpiece that is hailed as Michelangelo’s finest. I was standing beneath one of mankind’s greatest artwork, and the only feeling that aroused was the numbing pain in the back of my neck from staring at the ceiling for so long. To illustrate my complete lack of appreciation, my most memorable moment was actually laughing at my friend’s jape at the painting.
«I was expecting a little bit more from the God-​Adam finger touching, you know? Maybe God expected more, too. Adam just sitting there barely reaching and telling God ‘you go 90 I go 10.’»
But of course I couldn’t laugh for long since there was a strict policy of silence. They literally had dudes shouting at you to be quiet through a microphone. That baffled me. So are they trying to achieve silence via louder noises? That’s so moronic… or oxymoronic #teehee
But maybe I’m the true oxymoron around here. Here I am right now, painting my experiences with a keyboard and explaining artwork I do not understand. Who am I to criticize the work of Michelangelo and his peers? To them, I would be the ultimate oxy-​MORON, the uncultured Renaissance-​man.

Sistine Chapel and Vatican museum,

This was our first full day on our tour of Europe Brendon tours got us in the front of the line with a local tour guide. it’s surreal how gorgeous it is. You not allowed to take pic inside the Sistine chapel but a sorta did. They told me no pics but I covertly snapped a few.

One word. Breathtaking…
I have been to many museums but the layout of this museum was just great… You get to see everything in a short amount of time… Granted we didn’t get the guided tour but oh well…
I didn’t know that the Vatican has sold the rights to Japanese which is why taking photos are not allowed… I thought preservation was the target but I guess not… Lol
I agree with my fellow Unilocalers that people who do end up taking puctures should be kicked out of the gallery…
I don’t think that most of the security personnel were doing their job right… Many of them were either on their phone, talking to eachother or texting…
I saw that one visitor was siting on an Egyptian block in the Egyptian Gallery… I went to the security and he came and asked them to get up… I mean seriously, if he was at his post and did his job right, nothing like this would happen!
As an archaeologist, I care about cultural heritage and the artifacts… If they are in the museums, might as well make sure that they are getting protected and not damaged!!!

Je garde encore en mémoiré cette fresque mural sur le plafond de la chapelle Sixtine. Celle du jugement dernier représenté par Michel-​Ange. Ce rendre compte que l’on se trouve nez à nez avec une œuvre majeure de l’histoire de l’art.
D’autres célébrissimes peintures de l’artiste sont présentes dans les galeries. La restauration de ces représentations datent de moins d’une trentaine d’années, ce qui donnent l’impression qu’elles sont toutes neuves. C’est plaisant de constater qu’on tient à les préserver lorsque l’on s’aperçoit qu’ailleurs dans d’autres lieux, elles sont laissés à l’abandon.

Surestimé. Bruyant, sombre, toutes les deux secondes, on nous demande de bouger, de né pas prendre de photos, y a au moins 10 personnes qui nous dirigent. Honnêtement, le plafond est ce qu’il est mais dans le genre, il y en a plein à Rome et dans de meilleures conditions et on peut les prendre en photo. C’est vraiment la renommée qui l’emporte mais à part ce plafond, on né se croit même pas dans une chapelle.

Comment rédiger un avis sur ce lieu … c’est impossible !
aucun mot né peut le décrire …
Allez y, et admirez !!!
Nb: je vous conseille d’y aller le mercredi matin car c’est le jour où le pape fait une représentation publique à côté, ça permet de pénétrer dans le musée du Vatican sans trop faire la queue.