Visit the Sistine Chapel | The best of Vatican art

Sistine Chapel | Home to Renaissance frescoes by Michelangelo

Located in the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel is a treasure trove of spiritual and artistic wealth. It serves many religious and functionary roles, such as hosting the papal conclave.

However, the chapel is best known for the frescoes inside it, created by Renaissance painters Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Cosimo Rosselli. The most important works of art inside the Sistine Chapel, however, are the Sistine Chapel ceiling and Michelangelo's Last Judgment.

Main attractions in the Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel Southern Wall
Sistine Chapel Northern Wall
Sistine Chapel Entrance Wall 
Sistine Chapel ceiling
The Last Judgment
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Southern Wall

The Southern Wall showcases frescoes depicting the Stories of Moses, originally with eight panels, starting with Perugino's Birth and Finding of Moses, later replaced by The Last Judgment. Current frescoes include scenes like Moses in Egypt, the Crossing of the Red Sea, and the handing over of the Tablets of Law. Above, Michelangelo's lunettes depict the Forefathers of Christ.

Northern Wall

This wall tells the story of Christ's life, with frescoes depicting key events like the Baptism, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Last Supper. Above the windows are scenes of Christ's Passion, while the Resurrection is displayed on the entrance wall.

Entrance Wall

The wall features the final episodes of the Moses and Christ cycles, originally painted by Ghirlandaio and Signorelli but later replaced after destruction. It includes The Resurrection of Christ and the Discussion over the body of Moses, with the series of Pontiffs continuing across this wall.

Sistine Chapel ceiling

Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to repaint the ceiling, damaged during construction nearby. The ceiling, covering 5,000 square meters, features over 300 Biblical scenes, including episodes from Genesis. Michelangelo completed the monumental work between 1508 and 1512.

The Last Judgment

Michelangelo painted The Last Judgment from 1536 to 1541. It shows Christ in the moment before the final verdict, surrounded by saints and the Elect. Controversial for its nudity, Daniele da Volterra partially censored the fresco.

Plan your visit to the Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel Opening hours

Opening hours

Monday to Thursday: 8am - 7pm (last entrance at 5 pm)

Friday and Saturday: 8am - 8pm (last entrance 6 pm)

Last Sunday of the month: 9am - 2pm (last entrance 12:30pm).

Best time to visit: For a less crowded experience at the Sistine Chapel, consider visiting early in the morning by arriving before it opens or around 1 pm on weekdays. It's also advisable to skip the last Sunday of the month when admission is free, as it tends to attract larger crowds.

Detailed Sistine Chapel timings
Sistine Chapel

Location

Address: Vatican Museums, 00120 Vatican City

Find On Map

Getting There

  • By metro: Board a metro on Line A and alight at Ottaviano S. Pietro metro station, located an 8-minute walk away from Sistine Chapel.
  • By bus: Take buses 492 from Roma Termini. Alight at Bastioni Di Michelangelo, a 4-minute walk away from Sistine Chapel.
  • By train: Get off at Vatican City’s train station: St. Pietro, which is about 2 km away from the Vatican Museums.
Directions to Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel Visitor Information

Visitor information

  • Photography and video recording are not permitted inside the Sistine Chapel, but you can take photos without a flash in the Vatican Museums.
  • The cloakroom service is free, and while animals aren't allowed in the Museums (except for guide dogs), you can leave your belongings there.
  • To see the Sistine Chapel, allocate about 3 hours. Begin by admiring Michelangelo’s famous ceiling fresco, especially The Creation of Adam. Next, focus on his Last Judgment fresco on the altar wall. Also, check out the side frescoes by Botticelli and Perugino depicting scenes from Moses’s and Christ’s lives.
  • For security reasons, there is no Wi-Fi available. However, there are relaxation areas in the Museums where you can take a break.
  • To respect the sacred nature of the Chapel, maintaining silence is a small request, but one that should be respected. Opt for quiet footwear rather than flip-flops or shoes with loud soles, as they can create unwanted noise in the chapel.
  • If you have time after visiting the chapel, consider exploring nearby attractions like the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica with Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldachin, St. Peter’s Square with Bernini’s Colonnade, the climb to St. Peter’s Dome, and the Vatican Gardens.

The history of the Sistine Chapel

  • 1368: The Cappella Maggiore is established as the Papal Chapel.
  • Late 15th Century: The chapel falls into ruins.
  • 1473-1481: Pope Sixtus IV rebuilds the chapel.
  • 1481-1482: Renaissance artists decorate the interior.
  • 1483: The first mass is held in the newly rebuilt chapel.
  • 1492: The first papal conclave is held in the chapel.
  • 1508-1512: Michelangelo paints the ceiling and upper walls, commissioned by Pope Julius II.
  • 1512: The chapel is formally inaugurated.
  • 1519: Raphael’s tapestries depicting scenes from the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul are completed but later looted during the Sack of Rome in 1527.
  • 1536-1541: Pope Clement VII commissions Michelangelo to paint the Last Judgment on the altar wall.
  • 16th Century: The frescoes on the entrance wall are repainted.
  • 1979-1999: The chapel undergoes extensive restoration.
  • 1983: Raphael’s tapestries are reassembled and displayed.
  • Present day: The Sistine Chapel remains central to key papal ceremonies and conclaves.

The Sistine Chapel in pop culture

Sistine Chapel in pop culture

The Sistine Chapel's iconic imagery has influenced pop culture in various ways. The E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) poster humorously reimagines Michelangelo's Creation of Adam with an extraterrestrial theme. The Muppets parodied the fresco in Muppet Treasure Island (1996) with The Creation of Muppet. The Creation of Mario also playfully references the chapel.

The chapel's influence extends to Beavis and Butt-Head, which features a nod to Michelangelo’s work, and Legion of Super-Heroes #294, which mirrors the frescoes in a double-page spread. In film, The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965) depicted Michelangelo’s ceiling work, while The Two Popes (2019) used the chapel to underscore its historical significance.

Frequently asked questions About Sistine Chapel

Do my St. Peter’s Basilica tickets also include Sistine Chapel tickets?

No, not all Basilica tickets include the Sistine Chapel experience. If you’re looking for tickets that club both the Basilica and the Chapel, you can opt for the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Guided Tour.

What are the places to see around the Sistine Chapel?

After visiting the Sistine Chapel, explore St. Peter's Basilica with its stunning art and dome views, the Vatican Grottoes where popes are buried, and the serene Vatican Gardens for a peaceful retreat.

Does the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Guided Tour provide skip-the-line access?

Yes, the tour comes with skip-the-line access and allows you to get past long queues and save up on time!

Why is the Sistine Chapel named so?

The Sistine Chapel is named after Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, who commissioned the restoration of the ancient Magna Chapel between 1477 and 1480.

In which building can you find the Sistine Chapel?

The Sistine Chapel is located within the Apostolic Palace of Vatican City, inside the Vatican Museums in Rome.

How old was Michelangelo when he painted it?

Michelangelo was 33 when he began painting the Sistine Chapel's ceiling in 1508 and 36 when he completed it in 1512. He painted The Last Judgment between 1535 and 1541, when he was in his early 60s.

What is the purpose of the Sistine Chapel?

Historically, the Sistine Chapel hosted papal court ceremonies attended by the city's elite. Today, its primary and most renowned function is the Conclave, the assembly responsible for electing a new Pope.

What is the height of the Sistine Chapel?

The Sistine Chapel is approximately 21 meters high. The ceiling vault measures 40 meters in length and 13 meters in width, covering around 5,000 square meters.

What makes Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel stand out compared to other Renaissance artworks?

Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel stand out due to their dramatic scale, intricate detail, and emotional intensity. His depiction of biblical scenes, especially the Creation of Adam, showcases his mastery of human anatomy and dynamic composition. The frescoes’ expansive ceiling and complex narratives, combined with innovative use of perspective and vivid color, set them apart as monumental achievements in Renaissance art.

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