The Cappella Sistina or the Sistine Chapel is best known for two of the most awe-inspiring acts of individual creativity in the history of the visual arts, Michelangelo’s Genesis frescoes on the barrel-vaulted ceiling and his Giudizio Universale on the end wall.
One of the world’s greatest public spaces, Bernini’s massive piazza is a breathtaking work of urban architecture. Laid out between 1656 and 1667 as a place for Christians to gather, the piazza was designed to open up before visitors as they escaped the jumble of narrow strreets that originally surrounded the area. Mussolini, however, spoiled Bernini’s effect when he built the long straight approach road, Via della Conciliazione.
The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies in the amazing masterpiece that Michelangelo painted on the 10,000 foot ceiling of the church. The chapel is not far from the Vatican Museum, which is an attraction entirely worth taking a day or more to see what it has to offer. The famous St. Peter’s Basilica is at a walkable distance from the Sistine Chapel, and there you can enjoy another magnificent Michelangelo creation “The Pieta,” and you can also admire the dome of the Basilica, which is a masterpiece of architecture in and of itself. The place is a must visit while you are in Italy on a holiday.
Art lovers or just curious tourists alike cannot possibly stand in the presence of such greatness and not be moved. So as you plan your trip to Rome, you would be remiss if you did not allow some time to visit the Sistine Chapel and take in the artistic masterpieces you will find there.
It is a good idea to hire a car from various places in Italy to get to the Sistine Chapel. Hiring a car gives you much scope to explore the place to the core. Renting a car would be the best bet for tourists who prefer to go around on their own to check out interesting places around. Car rentals in Italy have come up to facilitate all the tourists to provide them an easy, less pricy option to enjoy the vacation. car-rental-italy has offers on car rental packages and you get a choice to pick up from chauffeured or self driven cars to go around and discover the hidden mystique corners of Italy.