The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope, in Vatican City. The name comes from Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it between 1477 and 1480. Since that time, the chapel has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Today it is the site of the Papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected. The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescos that decorate the interior, and most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Buonarroti. They were painted at the commission of Pope Julius II. The chapel is one of the most visited places in the world.
The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope, in Vatican City. The name comes from Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it between 1477 and 1480. Since that time, the chapel has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Today it is the site of the Papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected.
The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescos that decorate the interior, and most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Buonarroti. They were painted at the commission of Pope Julius II.
The chapel is one of the most visited places in the world. Every year, millions of tourists come to see the famous frescos and architecture. In addition to its religious significance, the Sistine Chapel is also a major cultural tourist destination.
