SISTINE CHAPEL, Introduction

Hi, I'm Alyson, your personal guide. Together with MyWoWo, I'd like to welcome you to one of the wonders of the world.

Today I'll accompany you through the Sistine Chapel, one of the most beautiful treasures of art in the entire world!

Like you, every year about 10 million tourists pass through the miles of corridors in the Vatican Museums to go straight to the Sistine Chapel, where they are enchanted, or rather overwhelmed, by the beauty and power of Michelangelo's frescoes. But you shouldn't forget that this is firstly a place of worship: for over half a millennium this is where the "conclave" has been held, which is the solemn ceremony for the pope's election, with a ritual that involves and excites the faithful.

Let's start with a bit of history: the chapel is linked to the name of Pope Sixtus IV, who was elected pope in August of 1471. During his long pontificate he left a serious mark on the city's architectural and urban planning, especially on the Vatican hillside next to the ancient Basilica dedicated to St. Peter, which would be completely torn down to build the actual one....