The Sistine Chapel is a working papal chapel in Vatican City and one of the great sights on a visit to Rome. Built under Pope Sixtus IV between 1473 and 1481, it takes its name from him and remains the setting for the conclave in which cardinals elect a new pope.
Michelangelo’s ceiling, painted between 1508 and 1512, tells stories from Genesis, including the near-touching hands of The Creation of Adam. He returned decades later to paint The Last Judgment across the altar wall. The side walls reward a closer look too, with frescoes by Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio and other Renaissance artists.
The chapel is reached through the Vatican Museums, so book a timed museum ticket in advance and allow enough time for the walk through the galleries. Shoulders and knees must be covered, photography is prohibited, and visitors are asked to remain quiet inside. Read up on the artwork before entering, then take a few moments to look beyond the famous ceiling.