The Sistine Chapel in Rome is the most famous chapel present in the Apostolic Palace. This palace is the official place where the Pope stays in the Vatican City. The architecture of this chapel has been influenced by Solomon’s Temple of the Old Testament. The Sistine Chapel has been decorated by some of the most magnificent artists of the Renaissance period. This includes Michelangelo, Bernini, Raphael and Sandro Botticelli. Among these the work of Michelangelo has been the most famous.

Michelangelo painted the chapel ceiling from 1508 to 1512. He covered about 12000 square feet. He painted the ceiling under the patronage of Pope Julius II. Michelangelo did not want to take payment for the work as he resented the fact that the Pope would be using his art to glorify himself. After about hundreds of years, the Sistine Chapel in Rome is known to be the best achievement of Michelangelo till date. The Sistine Chapel has got its name from another Pope. The name of this Pope is Pope Sixtus IV. The old Cappella Magna was started between 1477 and 1480 by him. So he is famous.

The Sistine Chapel in Rome has been decorated in a beautiful manner. The walls have been divided into three categories. The lower tier has been decorated with frescoed wall hangings. These have been done in silver and gold. Furthermore, the central tier is divided into The Life of Moses and The Life of Christ. The upper tier again has two zones. The window contains the lower zone and contains the paintings Gallery of Popes and Lives. The arched tops of windows have “lunettes”. These contain the painting called Ancestors of Christ, also done by Michelangelo. The Sistine Chapel in Rome has one of the most famous art works in the whole world. If you visit Rome, don’t forget to visit the Sistine Chapel too.