Lentorama 2026: Hic es: aedificia Vaticani 

Day 39: Cappella Sistina

The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who ordered its construction in the 15th century. It replaced the Cappella Maggiore, the larger of two chapels used for services and meetings of the papal court. 

The present chapel serves more or less the same purpose as the one it replaced. It is where the group known as the Papal Chapel - a subset of what's now known as the Papal Household, largely made up of Vatican officials - has mass and other events when it meets in full. 

As far as events go, it's best known as the site of papal conclaves, holding its first one in 1492 (whose allegations of dark money make it feel almost modern). The only modification to the chapel for the election is the installation of the stove and chimney used to signal if a vote has or has not resulted in a new pope).

(Unrelated to the building, I love that Wikipedia has an entry for seagulls at papal events)

But what the building is best known for is its art, most notably the frescoes by Michelangelo. He painted the ceiling primarily with stories from Genesis, with the Creation of Adam the central work (this is the one where Adam and God  are reaching out and touching fingertips). On the wall behind the altar he painted The Last Judgement, showing Jesus at the second coming and the ultimate fate of the judged. 

The chapel also has works by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Perugino, and others. Raphael created ten tapestries to hang on the chapel walls, but the original set was looted during the 1527 sack of Rome. It took until the late 20th century for a new complete set to be assembled from extra tapestries made after the original versions, and while they are displayed occasionally they do not hang in the chapel regularly.

I've had the good fortune to visit the chapel, and frankly the art is overwhelming. It's amazing, but it's a lot to take in.