HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsSistine Chapel
Italy
The Sistine Chapel is one of the greatest treasures of the Vatican City, of Rome and of the world in general. It is known as much for its decoration, as for being the temple in which popes are chosen and crowned. Some of the most important artists who worked in the chapel are Botticelli, Perugino, Luca and Michelangelo.
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Habemus Papam
If you want to see a true miracle, look at the survival of the Catholic Church after a night like this. In this grand square, where the Swiss Guard from Switzerland (CH) stand watch in their colorful uniforms, we witness the…
Listen in the app2Michelangelo’s Reluctance — The Reluctant Painter
To understand the ceiling above you, we must first understand the man who painted it. In 1505, Pope Julius the Second called Michelangelo to Rome, initially to sculpt his massive marble tomb. …
Listen in the app3The Creation Cycle — Genesis in Pigment
The central part of the ceiling is a series of nine panels telling the story of Genesis, from the creation of the world to the flood. Interestingly, Michelangelo did not paint these stories in order. …
Listen in the app4The Last Judgment — A Whirlwind of Souls
Three decades after completing the ceiling, Michelangelo was called back by Pope Paul III to paint the altar wall. Now sixty years old and with a long history behind him, he created 'The Last Judgment,' a masterpiece that…
Listen in the app5The Conclave — Under Lock and Key
Beyond its artistic glory, the Sistine Chapel is a functional center of power. Since 1492, it has been the site where 'every Pope has been secretly elected'. …
Listen in the app6The Theology of Nudity — Justice and Creation
One of the most profound aspects of the Sistine frescoes is Michelangelo’s 'theological meaning for the nudity'. To the modern eye, the naked bodies may seem purely artistic, but to Michelangelo, they represented 'Humanity…
Listen in the app7Acoustics and Atmosphere — The Sacred Silence
While your eyes are drawn upward, pay attention to the unique 'silence' and 'atmosphere' of the chapel. The room is designed with specific proportions—based on the Temple of Solomon—which creates a distinct acoustic environment. …
Listen in the app8Sistine Chapel
As you prepare to exit the Sistine Chapel, take a final look at the ceiling and the altar wall. You have witnessed one of 'Humanity’s greatest treasures,' an 'everlasting testimony' to the talent of Michelangelo and the ambition…
Listen in the app9Closing
As you prepare to exit the Sistine Chapel, take a final look at the ceiling and the altar wall. You have witnessed one of 'Humanity’s greatest treasures,' an 'everlasting testimony' to the talent of Michelangelo and the ambition…
Listen in the app
What is Sistine Chapel?
Sistine Chapel is a place in Italy with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 41.9029, 12.4545 |
| Last updated |
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within a 5-minute walk
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