Sistine Chapel

art · Vatican City · Renaissance

Home of the Popes. The Sistine Chapel is inside the Apostolic Palace, which is where the pope lives in Vatican City. It's been used for important religious ceremonies and papal events since it was built between 1473 and 1481.

Michelangelo's Masterpiece. The ceiling and walls of the chapel are covered with stunning frescoes (paintings made on wet plaster) painted by the legendary artist Michelangelo. The most famous part is the ceiling, which took him four years to complete and shows scenes from the Bible.

Where Popes Are Chosen. When the current pope passes away, the leaders of the Catholic Church gather in the Sistine Chapel for the papal conclave, a special meeting where they vote to select the next pope. This tradition has been happening there for hundreds of years.

Named After a Pope. The chapel was originally called the Cappella Magna, but it got its famous name from Pope Sixtus IV, who ordered it to be built in the 1400s. He wanted a grand space for important Church ceremonies.

The Last Judgment. On the chapel's altar wall, Michelangelo painted a massive fresco called The Last Judgment, which shows people being judged in the afterlife. It's considered one of the greatest paintings in all of history.