subject: A Visit To The Sistine Chapel [print this page] Who hasn't dreamed of a sight seeing trip to famous Rome, Italy? Whether for it's world-famous art museums or out of this world fine dining, there are plenty of things to do, see and eat in Rome.
Housing the world's greatest collections in fourteen Vatican Palaces, the Vatican Museum Complex is the perfect place to start, not only for the museums' close proximity to each other, but their unrivaled historically significant collections.
Collected by various Popes throughout the centuries, the complex houses a staggering array of art spanning nearly the entire history of mankind. Each of the separate museums hold vast collections of what are considered the world's most monumental artworks, from the Sistine Chapel itself to the personal apartments of Pope Julius II (1503-1513) and the tour support for each of the collections are considered Elite within the art world itself, with guides who are well-versed in nearly every aspect of the collection under their watch.
Commissioned by Sixtus IV della Rovere (1417-1484) the most famous of all the Vatican offerings is the Sistine Chapel. Used initially as a fortified assembly hall to house approximately 200 members and 20 cardinals, the Capella Magna was a fortified hall was initially designed as a defensive structure. It was relied upon heavily to ward off not only the Medici family, rulers of Florence who were locked in a continual struggle against the papacy, but also provided a degree of defense against the Mohammedan Turks which were also a threat to western coast of Italy at that time.
The dimensions of the great hall, scholars contend, were drawn directly drawn from the measurements of Solomon's Great Temple in Jerusalem, which was razed to the ground in 70 a.d. Under Pope Julius II, who had decided to renew and rebuild the entire city of Rome, commissioned Michelangelo Buonarroti, arguably the most famous artist of all time, to fresco the entire vault. It took four years of arduous, backbreaking work during the years between 1508 and 1512.
Any visitor to Rome should find the time to tour this monumental and historical piece of artwork, and consider it an experience of a lifetime. And while Rome is considered one of the world's most expensive cities, some foresight and planning can help you find suitable lodging at one of the thousands of hotels in Rome that can suit your budget, and quality considerations. Book Rome hotels in advance for major discounts on rooms.
