Address: Vatican Museums, 00120 Vatican City
The Southern Wall features frescoes that depict the Stories of Moses. Originally consisting of eight panels, the series began from the altar wall with the Birth and Finding of Moses by Perugino. However, this fresco was replaced by the Last Judgement. Today, the cycle features the following frescos:
The series of Pontiffs runs along all the walls. The figures of Christ and the first pope Peter, as well as Linus and Cletus, were also lost when Michelangelo painted the Last Judgement. In the lunettes and webs above, Michelangelo painted the Forefathers of Christ as listed at the beginning of the Gospel of St Matthew.
This wall features the stories of Christ. The frescoes were originally distributed over eight panels, beginning with the scene of Nativity painted by Perugino on the altar wall. This too was destroyed to make room for The Last Judgement. Today, the frescos depicting the events of the life of Christ follow this sequence:
Beyond the windows, you can see three episodes of the Passion, that is, the Agony in the garden, the Arrest of Jesus, and the Crucifixion. The cycle ends with the Resurrection of Christ, which can be seen on the entrance wall. The series of Pontiffs continues on this wall.
This wall features frescos that depict the two final episodes of the cycles of Moses and Christ. This includes:
The paintings, however, were destroyed in 1522. During the pontificate of Gregory XIII, the paintings were replaced. The Resurrection was replaced by Hendrik van den Broeck and Matteo da Lecce executed the replacement for Signorelli's work. The portrayal of the Popes continues on to this wall.
Julius II decided to have the decoration on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel renovated as the excavations carried out on the north and to the south of the building for the construction of the Borgia Tower and for the new St Peter's has resulted in a crack on the ceiling. While the ceiling was fixed by Bramante, the original fresco was damaged in the process. He tasked Michelangelo with replacing the paintings on the ceiling, which stretches over 5,000 square meters; approximately 40m long and 13 m wide, at a height of 21m. The frescoes depict over 300 Biblical scenes, the most famous ones being the ones depicting episodes from the Book of Genesis. The high Renaissance artwork took over four years, from 1508 to 1512, and was made painstakingly while standing upright on a special scaffold designed by Michelangelo himself.
The Last Judgement is one of the most important legacies of Michelangelo. Painted between 1536 and 1541, the fresco centers around Christ, at the moment before the Last Judgement is uttered. He is depicted in a calm manner, commanding attention and calming down the agitated crowd. Next to Christ, you will spot the Virgin, who looks resigned at the turn of events. Around them, you will find the Saints and the Elect, awaiting the verdict. One of these figures is St Bartholomew, who holds flayed skin on which you can find a self-portrait of Michelangelo. In the lower section are the angels of the Apocalypse, the risen recovering their bodies and angels and devils fighting.
The Last Judgement was at the receiving end of some harsh criticism for its nudity. In 1564, the Congregation of the Council of Trent decided to have some of the figures of the Judgement covered. The task was given to Daniele da Volterra.
A. Located in the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel is the chapel of the Papal Chapel, aka the pontifical household, and the sight on the Papal Conclave. It is also a popular tourist attraction that is home to some spectacular frescoes created by Michelangelo.
A. The Sistine Chapel is located inside the Vatican Museums at 00120 Vatican City.
A. Sistine Chapel is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM. Every last Sunday of the month, Sistine Chapel is open from 9 AM to 2 PM.
A. The Sistine Chapel was built between 1477 and 1480.
A. Yes, you can now book your Sistine Chapel tickets online now. You can book your Sistine Chapel tickets here.
A. No, photography is strictly prohibited inside the Sistine Chapel.
A. You can buy tickets to Sistine Chapel online.
A. Inside Sistine Chapel you will find frescoes depicting the lives of Moses and Jesus, as well as The Last Judgment and the ceiling that had been painted by Michelangelo.
Yes, guided tours of the Sistine Chapel will be available with Vatican tour.