Sistine Chapel

Visit the smallest country in the world online to discover the wonders of the Sistine Chapel.

A deeply religious building, this large papal chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV who restored it between 1473 and 1481. A cornerstone of High Renaissance art, the chapel’s ceiling is adorned with breath-taking Michelangelo artwork. Sit back and relax as you tour this intricately detailed masterpiece from the comfort of home.

The exterior of the chapel shows no hint that it houses some of the most prized artwork in the world. The ceiling, spanning well over 460m2, took Michelangelo four years to complete and features more than 300 figures. Further interior frescos were painted by a team of Renaissance painters including Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Cosimo Rosselli. If you were considering taking up painting, the chapel’s frescos may be the inspiration you need. Enter here: http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/cappella-sistina/tour-virtuale.html

The Sistine Chapel is not the only cultural institution to offer online access. Zoos are live-streaming their animal enclosures, art galleries have opened their virtual doors, and orchestras, theatres, and dance companies are sharing their performances online with the world. Here are some links to get you started.

Smithsonian: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour

Louvre: https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne

British Museum: https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/

Great Wall of China: https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china

Yellowstone Park: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm

Broadway HD: https://www.broadwayhd.com/

Theatre: https://www.digitaltheatre.com

Photo by Calvin Craig on Unsplash