The Sistine Chapel is a treasure of the Vatican and all of Italy. Outstanding architects and painters took part in its creation. This is the greatest monument of the Renaissance, in the creation of which Michelangelo put all his strength and health. The Sistine Chapel is rightfully considered the pearl of the Vatican.
History of the construction of the Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is a small wooden church on the territory of the Vatican. This religious building was intended for public worship. The chapel was built in the 15th century at the request of Pope Sixtus 6, after whom the church is named. Externally, the chapel is a rectangular building. It is no different from the surrounding structures. However, the interior decoration of the church is striking in its beauty and grandeur.
Initially, the Sistine Chapel was built as a fortress, in which the Pope was supposed to be during the siege of the city or during the period of hostilities. Loopholes were installed under the roof of the church. Since the chapel was built as a fortification, it had the status of an adjoining church. The chapel was used not only for worship and ceremonies, but also as the house where the Pope lived.
The project for the construction of the chapel was prepared by the architect Baccio Pontelia, and the construction of the building was carried out under the direction of George de Dolci. The creation of a structure worthy of the greatness of the Pope took almost 10 years.
Description
The Sistine Chapel outwardly was a fortress, which was supposed to protect the pontiff from invaders during the war, so there is no hint of the greatness of the Roman church outside the building. Inside, the walls of the building are covered with frescoes and paintings. Such masters of painting as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael took part in their creation.
The painters created 16 frescoes and paintings depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Currently, only 12 frescoes have survived. Many of the murals were lost because the interior walls were repainted and new images were applied to them. The chapel's wall frescoes depict scenes from the life of Christ and Moses. It is unknown who painted the ceiling immediately after the construction of the building. There are only records that the vault of the chapel was a starry sky. The Pope ordered to paint over the completely finished ceiling. At this place, Michelangelo created his masterpiece.
The master did not like to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, because this work took away his health. However, a magnificent fresco depicting biblical scenes, the creation of Adam and Eve by God and their expulsion from Paradise, became the central theme of the chapel. 25 years after the completion of the ceiling painting, Michelangelo created another majestic fresco "The Last Judgment". The walls were decorated from ceiling to floor with tapestries designed by Raphael Santi. They also depicted scenes from religious life. Only a few tapestries have survived to this day.
For several centuries, the chapel was the center of the Vatican, showing the power and grandeur of the Catholic Church. In the middle of the 20th century, the chapel was restored and opened to visitors.
Excursions
The Vatican is a theocratic state that occupies several quarters of Rome. All buildings and structures of the Vatican are accessible to tourists and visitors to the city. There are several museums, architectural and historical monuments on its territory. The Sistine Chapel is considered the central landmark of the Vatican. You can get to it on foot, which will allow you to see other monuments of history and culture of Italy. To get to the Vatican you can use the metro lines.
The Sistine Chapel is located at the official address: Italy, Vatican, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Citta del Vaticano. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 18.00. The entrance to the cathedral is paid. Tickets can be purchased both at the box office of the chapel and on the official website.
Tourists can visit the Sistine Chapel both independently and as part of an excursion group. At the request of the Vatican, each visitor should follow the established rules: it is forbidden to take pictures and make noise in the chapel building.
The Sistine Chapel is a unique monument of painting and architecture, a real value and the pearl of the Vatican.
