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Sistine Chapel

Our time in Rome is somewhat limited, so we're going to have to whittle down our priorities. So I'm looking at the Vatican and wondering is it possible to just tour the Sistine Chapel? While I would love to have time to see it all, I would most like to see the Sistine Chapel. Any advice on how to do this? I appreciate any thoughts!
Lin

Posted by
23 posts

I believe you have to go through the Vatican Museum to get there, but you could book a time for the museum, and walk straight through it to the Chapel.

Posted by
11613 posts

Lin, there is one ticket for the museums, but you can go directly to the Sistine Chapel once you are inside the main entrance (there is good signage to direct you). It's a bit of a walk so you'll be glancing at some of the other collections on your way there. Be prepared for a very crowded room, noise, and guards constantly telling people to be quiet, not to sit down in certain areas, and not to use flash.

Posted by
94 posts

If you have limited time I would say go another day

Posted by
15 posts

I understand from friends that have visited the Sistine Chapel that it was a good 1/2 hour walk through the Vatican Museums to get there. (That's if you don't stop to look at any of the art along the way.) For a limited time beginning in September, the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums can be viewed on Friday nights from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. when many of the other sites are closed. In order to do this, though, you do have to make reservations online. According to reviews I have read, there are fewer people there in the evening which can make for a more enjoyable experience. We will be in Rome for 3 days this month and will be pressed for time, as well. We took advantage of the opportunity to do this so we could see the other available sites during the day time. Good luck!

Posted by
1525 posts

I don't want to dissuade you from seeing the Sistine Chapel, as I'm sure it is something you have wanted to do for a long time. But as someone not prone to religiously emotional gushing, I found the chapel to be an enormous disappointment - possibly the most underwhelming site I have seen in Europe compared to my expectations. I expected an opulent space made more beautiful by the intricate artwork. The reality is that the space is a plain rectangular room, poorly lit with natural light. The only adornment is the artwork. And while I am no art critic, I have seen much more compelling artwork elsewhere. It struck me that the main feature was quantity instead of quality. Add to that the crush of tourists and the constant urging of the guards to shush the crowd and "NO PHOTO....NO PHOTO!" made the experience the about as unspiritual as I could imagine. You should see it to judge for yourself, but it only takes a few minutes. Spend some time seeing what the museums have to offer. Peer out the windows to get a peek at the Vatican grounds. Also, if you have an hour or two one night around sunset, walk back to the Vatican and simply linger in front of St. Peter's in peace and quiet and enjoy seeing the square lit up. That was our favorite memory of Rome.

Posted by
198 posts

Hi Randy, I completely agree with you about the Sistene Chapel! I, too, was really disappointed. I think you hit it on the head when you said there is quantity as opposed to quality. I was shocked that the famous creation painting was so small! It really got lost amongst the myriad of paintings. Generally, I am not a big fan of Michaelangel's paintings. I personally don't think his paintings are superior to other artists. I don't think he considered himself to be a painter really, but rather a sculptor. That definitely shows. His Pieta, for example is truly beautiful and inspiring. I liked many of the rooms in the Vatican Museum, especially the Map Room with the long gold ceiling. I enjoyed climbing the dome, which I believe Michaelangelo designed. It's refreshing to see someone else not being so thrilled with the Sistene Chapel! I wish we got to see the area lit up at night as you described. Sounds beautiful! I would advise Lin to see the Sistene Chapel as part of the Vatican Museum experience, but not to focus on it. Maybe she will need to see it for herself to know what we are talking about. But there are many wonderful things she will be glad to have seen at the Vatican.
Happy travels, Ruth

Posted by
11613 posts

Oh boy. Let me preface my post by saying that I teach religious studies at a small Catholic college, and I especially love teaching about Christian artwork. Lin, I encourage you to judge the quality of the work for yourself - take a virtual tour of the Vatican Museums online and decide if you really want to see it. I completely agree with posters who said this is not the spiritual experience they had hoped for (I alluded to that in my first post), however, everyone has a different threshhold for distractions and many people come away from the Chapel very much moved by it. I've been going to the Sistine Chapel since I was seven years old (the last time was 2011), and I will not go back without a private tour during hours when the Chapel is closed to the public (my friends took a tour at 7:30 in the morning). But if you've never seen it, and you are interested in Michelangelo's paintings, this is the best collection of them. Enjoy your vacation!

Posted by
381 posts

I was pretty surprised at how many people don't like the sistine chapel on this post. I do agreet that it is a trek to get there through the vatican museum. We got a map before we went in so we just went to the places we wanted to see which was the sistine chapel and the Raphael paintings. But the sistine chapel is not just about art, not just about spiritualality (if there is such a word)and not just about history of it being painted. It is about all of the above. It is a remarkable piece of work considering how it had to be painted, the time it took to paint it, the difficulty and the history behind it being painted. To get a very good appreciation for it rent the move 'The Agony and the Ectasy'. Once you appreciate how it was done and the history of both the man who painted it adn the pope who commissioned it, you will have a much greater appreciation for it.

Posted by
4152 posts

I have to admit that I was very disappointed the first time I saw the Sistine chapel. I had seen hundreds of pictures of the ceiling, the last judgement and the room itself and was so excited to visit but when I got there it was a real let down. It wasn't that the artwork or room was not beautiful it was that the pictures all make it look so large when in reality it's a small room. My first thought upon entering the room wasn't "oh my god how beautiful" it was "man, this room is so much smaller than I thought it would be". It took me a few minutes to get over that and the huge crowd of wall to wall people but I did enjoy the chapel and love the artwork. I have been back many many times and still love it and find new things to examine. Donna

Posted by
11294 posts

Add me to the negative posters. I understand everything Tom posted above - but none of it was possible to appreciate with the crowds, the noise, and the tense and nasty atmosphere (rude tourists combined with "shushing" attendants). After a few minutes, I couldn't wait to leave. If I go again, I'll either go in January, or take a private after-hours tour (great idea!). Otherwise, I'll just rent the movie and look at my brother's book of photos of the restoration. I would not stop anyone from going, but I think it's important to be prepared for the realities of a visit. I also agree that it's important to prepare by doing some advance reading and watching, so you know what you are seeing and its significance. And bring binoculars - the ceiling is really high up and hard to see with the naked eye.

Posted by
114 posts

We saw the Sistene Chapel a few years ago on our firts visit to Rome and would offer a few tips 1. We reserved the first entrance time and raced through the rest of the museum to get there before the crowds. 2. Take a seat on the bench along the wall. This way you can rest your head while looking up 3. Bring binoculars- we brought cheap travel type but they proved invaluable 4. Read up on the art work and Michelangelo before your trip. It is fascinating to learn of all the little messages and meanings in the work itself.
5. Don't ignore the mural behind the alter. It is magnicficient. Again, read up on it before going.

Posted by
26 posts

I'm curious about the after hours tour someone mentioned. How can I find out more about that? Is there somewhere on a website to purchase tickets for an after hour tour? Thanks to everyone for your thoughts. Very interesting! I'm going to study up more on Michaelangelo so I can appreciate it!
Lin

Posted by
1431 posts

Lin, I too was not surprised by most of the responses so far. Ditto the idea of going early in the morning for a bench seat using binoculars. I am unfamiliar with the late night entry/ tour. Once you have taken some time at the Sistine(really, you only need 10-15 minutes, IMHO), go back and visit the Raphael rooms and don't miss the Pieta, an absolutely stunning sculpture. Get a good map upon entry to the museums ( or use RS Guidebook for a simple map) so that you can focus on the art you are interested in. Keep in mind that moving around in the crowds will take some time too. I thought the movie Agony and The Ecstacy really depicted the struggle Michelangelo suffered while painting the Sistine. The book really captured his frustration with the popes. He always wanted to get back to his true calling, sculpture. Have a fabulous time in Rome. You'll probably be back some day. Ciao, Linda