Perhaps the most beautiful spot in all of Europe is inside the Sistine Chapel, surrounded by the artistic riches of the Renaissance. Above you is a celebration of Humanism, with God giving an impressive Adam the “spark of life.” And behind the altar, filling the front wall, is the Last Judgment.
The only downside of a visit here is that it’s jam-packed with people, and there’s an annoying loudspeaker requesting everyone to be quiet. Now, the Vatican Museum has released a cool Web tool that lets you be all alone (virtually) in the Sistine Chapel…just you and the brilliance of Michelangelo and the theological points he was hired to make ‘ as only he could.
This website is probably your only opportunity to get so dizzy you fall, if not onto the ornate inlaid-marble floor, at least off your computer chair. Motor with a left click on your mouse to the ceiling, with God giving Adam life in the center. Then, holding down that left click, slide to the left and twirl, riding the Creation merry-go-round. Then, pick yourself up off the virtual floor and head over to the Last Judgment on the front wall. Click the zoom (+) button in the lower corner to push into Christ.
While the ceiling is the celebration of Creation from a positive, Humanist perspective, the Last Judgment was done later. It’s Counter-Reformation art ‘ a powerful and, I imagine, very effective response to the Protestant Reformation ‘ in which a vindictive Jesus is coming down on Judgment Day, arm raised, with Mary cowering at his side, as if no longer able to intervene for people who were led astray.
Put yourself in a 500-years-ago frame of mind as you venture to the left (where people are going to heaven) and then to the right ‘ where sorry souls are plummeting down, down, down.
While floating through this incredible chapel is a fun virtual experience, it also makes me thankful to be able to experience the great artistic accomplishments of our civilization both in silico (via Web simulation) and in person.
I now realize I was fortunate to visit the Sistine Chapel during restoration. I was oddly disappointed by the effect of the bright colors when I returned after restoration was commplete. I missed some of the aging from the smoke. I can`t imagine crowds and loud speakers which would make appreciation impossible.
Breathtaking…I would very likely be quite overwhelmed in-person. …and I`m not particularly religious, just in awe of history.
Rick – this is a great post. I remember being there, what an experience – and now I get to sit back and take another look – without the crowds! Thank you for sharing this with us.
This is great! Art instructors all over the world will use this site!
The proof of Humanism is in the creation of Adam where the painting of God looks like a drawing of the human brain in an anatomy book. There was dissection going on.
Thanks so much Rich – I saw it many years ago before it was restored – and it is so much more beautiful now. And to be able to view it on the computer – marvelous
Thanks Rick. Coolest thing I`ve seen in a while!
This is quite fun. I especially enjoyed seeing what the floor looks like without being covered with feet!
We were fortunate/unfortunate enough to visit the Sistine Chapel in October of 2001. In the aftermath of September 11 there were practically no tourist in the Chapel and we experienced it with about a dozen other people. We had seen it 3 years earlier when it was packed. This time we saw the beautiful marble floor for the first time, noticed the stunning paintings ringing the room below the ceiling, and best of all saw that there were benches along the sides so that we could sit down (for as long as we wanted) so that we didn`t break our necks looking at the ceiling. That was quite a fall (Aug-Dec) visiting Europe!
Thanks! This is a true gem. I was there in 2005 and then again 2 months ago. Each time I tried to take in as much as possible and imagined what it might be like to be there alone. I actually got a kick out of the guards telling everyone to “SSSSHHHHHHH!!!”
this is why i took the night tour…no crowds and everyone seem to recognize the atmosphere and moment and was quiet…only issue was the stupid girl who started taking pictures and security came over and took her memory car and the whole time the girl claimed she didn`t know…silly
So beautiful. Magnificant!
Thanks so much for the info. I thought it was just me, but when we went and planned it all out to actually get into the Chapel I was so dissapointed at the distraction. Seems crazy for the quards to make so much noise telling people not to make noise!
When I went in 1999, there were so many tourists, I swore never to go again. It completely lost its mystery and magnificence in the multitudes who were checking it off their must-see list. I have the art books here to see the details and grandeur, and now the virtual visit as well. Perhaps as one person said, a night visit might work also.
I almost kicked out of the Sistine Chapel back in October 2001. How embarassing would that have been? There was one particularly militant guard there who made so much noise sushing everyone. He was the one making the noise. I gave him a dirty look and thought I`d get tossed out for a few seconds. Amusing to read other`s experience with the guards too.
This site is really cool. I did it full screen. I`ll have to try it on my HDTV. I saw the Sistine Chapel in 1969…first of the jet age wandering art major baby boomers. Crowd not so big then. Latched on to a small group with an English speaking Priest and got a free lecture tour. Give a little credit to the Botticelli/Perugino paintings on the walls and the Rapheal tapistries.
We visited the Sistine chapel during a fabulous Rick Steves 7 day Rome tour. Because of having some fused vertibrae in my neck, I couldn`t really enjoy the ceiling… NOW I CAN! :)
Wow….I am one of the fortunate souls to visit Capella Sistina, but that takes the cake. Thanks Rick!!
Fantastic! I was there four years ago, but this website more or less gives the same effect – a masterpiece room for sure. I`ve always been in awe that Jesus is depicted beardless in The Last Judgement. Wonder what Michaelangelo was thinking by this?
Does anyone know why Michelangelo`s women are all just as muscular as the men?
I viewed the Chapel for the first time during one of your Rome city tours in 2008…it was packed with people but we got some seats against the wall as you recommended and sat for about a hour just letting the view comsumed us..it was very spiritual and moving for me. We plan to go back and thanks for update since photos were not allowed.. Again, your tours and tour guides are great!! We have since gone on another tour with you and plan to do one in 2011..
Thanks for the info. But “Perhaps the most beautiful spot in all of Europe is inside the Sistine Chapel” – for those who go to Europe for art, perhaps. But some of us prefer nature to art. I`ll take the Alps – or the Tatras – or the Amalfi Coast – or the Cornish coast or… over the art any time. Actually, I`d take the V&A over the Sistine Chapel too, and it`s a whole lot quieter and has a beautiful cafe.
The best option to see the Sistine Chapel , in relative privacy.. is to go to the nights that Vatican Museum is open evenings.. These magical night visits were offered in Sept 2010… limited tickets are sold. Not sure when other such night visits are available.. Not all displays are open… during the evening tours When Museum doors open, 7:00 pm.. make a beeline to Sistine Chapel… I arrived there with six other visitors and this was special…. virtually alone in the Sistine Chapel.. Had visited Sistine several times before.. but the crowd scene had been overwhelming. Check out the Vatican night tours. Also in Sept had been special Colosseum night tours… with access to the Colosseum floor…. another very special evening..
Thanks Rick for sharing this. I visited Rome last May and saw the Sistine Chapel. I remember the crowd as much as the art. This will be a great way to enjoy it much more comfortably and savor it.
As for me I enjoyed greatly the Sistine Chapel in spite of the overcrowded hall. The impression was so huge that I forgot about everything except the masterpiece. No one of the virtual tours could substitute the real views
I love it!
Seems kind of ironic that a tour guide who has promoted traveling for over 30 years is complaining about the crowds of tourists! Unintended consequences perhaps?
My wife and I just returned from 2+ weeks in Italy, including a visit to the Vatican. This VR Sistine is very cool! Nothing`s quite like seeing it in person, of course — but still impressive. I make our tour guide laugh by pointing out the irony of water damage only in the section depicting Noah`s Flood. Anyway, thanks for posting this Rick, and for all the wonderful tips that helped make our vacation even better.
We were in Italy last March. We saved the Vatican and Sistine Chapel for our last day in Rome, and were disappointed (along with hundreds of others) that it was St Joseph`s Day, and so the Chapel was closed. It would have been an easy thing to alter the schedule had we known. Apparently this web simulation is as close as I`m going to get, for a few years, anyway. Next March- Avignon. Do you think Palais de Papes is closed for St. Joseph`s Day?
A+ out of the box and beyond the envelope. love it.
Hoping to see it THIS time (in 2011). Last time Jean-Paul 2 died days before (2005) and Rome was crazy with a few million more people than usual. We briefly got in the 24 hour line to file by the casket, but bailed (only to find that we were close to moving in). Oh well. Next September for sure. Thanks for the virtual tour… it made “The Pope`s Ceiling” come alive (and I`d recommend this book to anyone about to visit it – about the struggles between Michelangelo and Julian).
I was fortunate to see and experience the Sistine Chapel in 1969 and 1970. Both times with a tour guide and no other tourists but the few of us that were seeing Rome together. Michealango`s Pieta was in touching distance with no barrier. Seen in the reverence that it should be seen.