Things to do in Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is a famous Roman Catholic chapel located within the Vatican City in Rome that is known for its breathtaking art and its role as a meeting place of the papal conclave where the Pope is selected. The chapel has the same dimensions as the Temple of Solomon, on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, as described in the Old Testament of the Bible
Originally known as the Cappela Magna, the Sistine Chapel was restored between 1477 and 1480 and then renamed after Pope Sixtus IV who commissioned its construction. Pope Sixtus IV also commisioned for the iconic artwork that is found inside of the chapel which was created between the late 1400's and 1500's.
Renowned painters including Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino and Domenico Ghirlandaio adorned the walls with Renaissance style frescoes, but it was Michelangelo who painted some of the most acclaimed works found in the chapel from the iconic ceiling with "The Creation of Adam" to the altar with "The Last Judgement". It is said that Michelangelo didn't see his masterpiece he created on the ceiling as a whole until after he was completely finished painting, over 4 years from when he first started!
Today, the Sistine Chapel is still used for its original purpose 500 years after being built; it's the Pope's personal chapel and a place to host mass.
Approximately 25,000 visitors come to visit the Church daily to take tours and admire the gorgeous art while learning about its important religious and historic significance. If you are in Rome visiting, be sure to make a visit to this historical chapel and admire the Sistine Chapel's artwork!
Information about visiting the Sistine Chapel
- To visit the Sistine Chapel it is necessary to follow a pre-established route that starts from the Vatican Museums.
- In order to conserve the frescoes, entrance to the Chapel is limited and the stay inside is subject to the observation of strict rules of conduct.
- Inside the Chapel, it is absolutely forbidden to take videos and/or photos, and the use of cell phones is also forbidden.
- It is prohibited to bring in food and drink of any kind
- The Sistine Chapel is one of the most sacred places of Catholicism, for this reason, visitors are asked to observe the utmost silence during the visit.
- To enter the Sistine Chapel a dress code is also required: men can't enter in shorts and women can't wear skirts above the knee; hats are prohibited and shirts must cover the shoulders.
Our recommendations in Sistine Chapel
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Small Group Tour
Book a small group tour through Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Enjoy an exploration without the distractions of a larger group.
en
Skip-the-Line Tickets for Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Enjoy your skip-the-line ticket for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and admire them at your own pace.
en, it
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica
Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a guide and skip-the-line tickets. After the tour, visit St. Peter's Basilica at your own pace!
en, fr, es
Reserved entrance and guided tour of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Benefit from reserved access to admire the beautiful Vatican Museums and visit the greatest attractions in Rome, the Sistine Chapel.
en, fr, es
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Small Group Tour
Book a small group tour through Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Enjoy an exploration without the distractions of a larger group.
en
Skip-the-Line Tickets for Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Enjoy your skip-the-line ticket for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and admire them at your own pace.
en, it
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica
Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a guide and skip-the-line tickets. After the tour, visit St. Peter's Basilica at your own pace!
en, fr, es
Reserved entrance and guided tour of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Benefit from reserved access to admire the beautiful Vatican Museums and visit the greatest attractions in Rome, the Sistine Chapel.
en, fr, es
Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel Guided Tour
Explore Rome's iconic landmarks with a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.
es
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel skip-the-line-tickets and audio guide
Discover the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel in depth with a digital audio guide.
en, it, fr, es, de, +1 nl
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica
Explore the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica with a guided tour. Admire iconic art pieces and gain priority access.
en
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel guided tour
Explore the Vatican's art collections and Michelangelo's masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel on a skip-the-line guided tour.
en
Vatican Museums with St. Peter’s Basilica small group tour
Join an exclusive guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Skip the queues with priority access and explore these historic sites.
en
Fast track Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tour
Full-Day Combined Tour of Vatican City and Ancient Rome
Discover Rome's iconic treasures with a combined tour of the Vatican City and ancient Rome. Marvel at art, history, and culture in the Eternal City.
en
Colosseum, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Experience
Travel back in time to the center of daily life in ancient Rome at the Forum, and explore the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums.
en, it, fr, es
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Reviews Sistine Chapel
“This tour had several obstacles: Company had no outside board; The lady guide on the way to the Vatican museum heard a British client making a criticism, this was later followed by a family of 4 abandoning earlier the tour. Did not feel a tour or was room for questions. The customer had to keep up while she gave an art/catholic history lesson before entering the Sistine chapel leaving only 5 minutes inside for the visit. Another criticism was made, but not taken. All in all very disappointing.”
“It's a beautiful site to walk around but with a small child in a pushchair it's not recommended as there are a lots of stairs in the Vatican and the Sistine chapel and you aren't permitted to take a pushchair into the basilica. When we went into the basilica, we needed to change our son and our tour group, rushed off without us and so we just left to go home.”
“It wasn't worth us paying for skip the line as our electronic tickets were not accepted when we presented them and we were directed to a tourist office to get them printed. The new tickets were a different format as the tourist office were simply not allowed to print them. A favour by providing new tickets for us free of charge but they were not skip the line. It would be helpful to know which tours need paper tickets and which can use electronic.”
“The Vatican museum was a lovely place. However, we did not see the Sistine chapel nor the basilica. Originally there was confusion to whether I was apart of the tour or not, and I was left alone by the host while he went and found out. The tour guide basically gave up towards the end, leaving us to finish the tour ourselves.”
