Useful Information
Frequently asked questions
When can the Sistine Chapel be visited?
The Vatican Museums are open from Monday to Saturday every day of the year and on the last Sundays of the month.
How much does it cost to visit the Sistine Chapel?
The cost of a ticket to visit the Sistine Chapel varies according to the type of visit. It starts from a minimum of about € 26 if you choose the single ticket for the Vatican Museums. The ticket costs more if you choose the guided tour or if you also want to visit the Vatican Gardens.
In which building is the Sistine Chapel located?
The Sistine Chapel is one of the chapels of the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican City and is located inside the Vatican Museums in Rome
Who painted the Sistine Chapel in Rome?
The Sistine Chapel was frescoed by Michelangelo. His assistants mainly helped him mix the paints and carry them up and down the scaffolding. Only a few, particularly gifted, frescoed very small parts.
How old was Michelangelo when he painted the Sistine Chapel?
Michelangelo finished painting the Sistine Chapel's vault in 1512 at the age of 36. The Last Judgment was painted between 1535 and 1541.
What does the vault of the Sistine Chapel depict?
The ceiling, frescoed in record time by Michelangelo, depicts numerous themes. There are scenes from the Book of Genesis, the Creation and the Fall of man, immediately after Noah's Flood. There are portraits of prophets and sibyls announcing the coming of the Messiah and stories of the tragedy of the Jewish people. In total, there are more than 300 figures painted on the ceiling.
Where is Michelangelo's Last Judgment located?
The Last Judgment is located in the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican Museums. It was frescoed by Michelangelo on the wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel.
What is the function of the Sistine Chapel?
The Sistine Chapel was used for papal court ceremonies attended by the most important of people in the city.
Today the main and most famous function of the Sistine Chapel is the Conclave, the assembly that elects the new Pope.
How high is the Sistine Chapel?
The Sistine Chapel is about 21 meters high, the vault is 40 meters long and 13 meters wide for a total of about 5.000 square meters.
When was the Sistine Chapel built?
In 1473 the design of the Sistine Chapel began when the remains of the previous building were destroyed. Only the bases of the walls and the asymmetrical plan of the building remained intact. The ceiling was covered with new vaults.
The actual reconstruction work started in 1477 and lasted about 4 years.
Why is the Sistine Chapel so called?
The Sistine Chapel owes its name to Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere who had the ancient Magna Chapel restored between 1477 and 1480.
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It is not permitted to bring alcoholic drinks and spirits into the Sistine Chapel
Taking pictures and filming videos in the Sistine Chapel is strictly prohibited.It is allowed to take pictures without flash inside the Vatican Museums.
The cloakroom service is free of charge.
All knives, scissors and/or metal tools of various kinds are to be stored in the cloakroom
Waste cannot be abandoned inside the Vatican Museums, except in the special bins located in the areas outside the tour route.
Security checks by metal detector
Access to the Museums is not permitted to animals, even small ones, with the exception of guide dogs for the blind or visually impaired.
The use of mobile phones is not recommended inside the Vatican Museums. It is forbidden in the Sistine Chapel. There is no Wi-Fi connection for security reasons.
Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is prohibited in the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.
In the Vatican Museums are relaxation areas with seats to enable visitors to take a break
With respect for and in view of the sanctity of the location, during the visit to the Sistine Chapel, visitors are kindly asked to observe absolute silence.