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Explore the Sistine Chapel From Home on a Virtual Tour With the Vatican Museums

These virtual tours include areas that are usually off-limits to the public.

Jessica Poitevien is an international storyteller and regular contributor to Travel + Leisure.

If you are not able to travel in person for whatever reason, the good news is that museums and attractions around the world are providing virtual tours, allowing you to experience them from the comfort of your couch.

Among the most iconic places offering virtual tours is the Vatican .

Typically millions of travelers visit the Vatican Museums every year. Its many halls are almost always crowded, making it difficult at times to truly admire the intensely detailed frescoes, especially in the Sistine Chapel. However, the Vatican Museums created a variety of impressive virtual tours showcasing several areas around the grounds. Now, you can sit at home and contemplate these historic beauties with easy-to-navigate virtual tours that are also completely free of charge.

There are 26 distinct areas in the Vatican Museums, and thanks to this digital tourism option, virtual visitors have the opportunity to explore sections that are normally off-limits to the public, including the Niccoline Chapel , which features frescoes by Fra Angelico. Raphael's Rooms, created for popes Julius II (1503-13) and Leo X (1513-21), also have 360-degree tours that place you right in the middle of the elegant rooms.

The Vatican Museums also offer photos and videos of other areas where virtual tours have not been made, such as the Gregorian Egyptian Museum , the Jewish Lapidarium , and the Carriage Pavilion .

For a full list of all the virtual tours available, visit the Vatican Museums official website . And once you're done exploring, be sure to check out these 12 museums from around the world that are also offering virtual tours.

Jessica Poitevien is a Travel Leisure contributor currently based in South Florida, but always on the lookout for the next adventure. Besides traveling, she loves baking, talking to strangers, and taking long walks on the beach. Follow her adventures on Instagram .

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Virtual Reality Tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel

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Take a 3D Virtual Tour of the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and Other Art-Adorned Vatican Spaces

in Architecture , Art , Religion | May 24th, 2013 9 Comments

For­get the air­ports, the tick­et lines, and the crowds. Now you can step right into the Vat­i­can’s most sacred spaces and inspect the won­ders of Renais­sance art and archi­tec­ture with just a click of a mouse. The Vat­i­can has post­ed a series of vir­tu­al tours cre­at­ed by stu­dents and fac­ul­ty in the com­mu­ni­ca­tion and com­put­ing sci­ence depart­ments at Penn­syl­va­ni­a’s  Vil­lano­va Uni­ver­si­ty . The four Papal Basil­i­cas are includ­ed, along with the small­er Sis­tine and Pauline chapels. Here are six links to six amaz­ing vir­tu­al tours:

Basil­i­ca of St. Peter : Designed by Michelan­ge­lo and oth­ers, St. Peter’s is the focal point of the Vat­i­can, and per­haps the most famous exam­ple of Renais­sance archi­tec­ture. You can scroll up and down to inspect the walls and ceilings–including the famous dome–and zoom in for a close look at Michelan­gelo’s mas­ter­piece the Pietà  or Bernini’s ornate canopy, or bal­dachin , over the Papal Altar.

The Sis­tine Chapel :  The most famous build­ing in the Vat­i­can, after St. Peter’s, is the Sis­tine Chapel, a part of the Pope’s offi­cial res­i­dence, the Apos­tolic Palace. Fres­coes by Raphael, Berni­ni, Bot­ti­cel­li and oth­ers adorn the walls–and on the ceil­ing, one of the great mas­ter­pieces in the his­to­ry of art: Michelan­gelo’s ear­ly 16th cen­tu­ry depic­tion of scenes from the Book of Gen­e­sis, cov­er­ing some 12,000 square feet. On a walk­ing tour you would bare­ly have enough time to rec­og­nize some of the major scenes. With this vir­tu­al tour you can spend all the time you want scan­ning around and zoom­ing in to study the details.

Arch­basil­i­ca of St. John Lat­er­an :  The Pope’s offi­cial eccle­si­as­ti­cal seat, St. John Lat­er­an is the old­est Papal Basil­i­ca. But many of its most famous fea­tures are rel­a­tive­ly recent.  The basil­i­ca is per­haps best known for its neo­clas­si­cal façade by Alessan­dro Galilei, com­plet­ed in 1735.

Basil­i­ca of Paul Out­side-the-Walls :  Built out­side the old city walls, this basil­i­ca con­tains the tomb of St. Paul. You can see the tomb and oth­er fea­tures of the grace­ful church (which was rebuilt in the 19th cen­tu­ry after a dev­as­tat­ing fire) on the tour.

Basil­i­ca of St. Mary Major : This basil­i­ca is actu­al­ly locat­ed out­side the Vat­i­can City com­pound, in Rome, but has extrater­ri­to­r­i­al sta­tus sim­i­lar to that of a for­eign embassy. Built in the fifth cen­tu­ry, with some lat­er addi­tions, the basil­i­ca is a beau­ti­ful exam­ple of clas­si­cal Roman archi­tec­ture.

The Pauline Chapel :  Anoth­er chapel in the Apos­tolic Palace, the Pauline Chapel is sep­a­rat­ed from the Sis­tine Chapel by the Sala Regia, or “Regal Room.” Although less well-known than the Sis­tine Chapel, the Pauline Chapel hous­es two great fres­coes by Michelan­ge­lo: “The Con­ver­sion of Saul” and “The Cru­ci­fix­ion of St. Peter.”

by Mike Springer | Permalink | Comments (9) |

Related posts:

Comments (9), 9 comments so far.

thank you! breath­tak­ing!

Wow! Def­i­nite­ly divine intervention…astonishing ! Mind blow­ing! Praise The Lord!

ou can skip to the end and leave a response. Ping­ing is cur­rent­ly not allowed. sonya says … | May 25, 2013 / 12:49 pm thank you! breath­tak­ing!

Mandy says … | August 3, 2013 / 12:53 pm Wow! Def­i­nite­ly divine intervention…astonishing ! Mind blow­ing! Praise The Lord!

I can­not access this site (vir­tu­al tour of Sis­tine Chapel. Why? I do not twit­ter, or have a face book account. Help! Shirley Bartmess

Beau­ti­ful !

Dear all, I need a help to find out name of the pic­ture and a painter of a oil on can­vas (i zhink) I saw in under­gorund gallery on the way to the Sis­tine chap­pel. The motiv of the pic­ture are work­ers who mak­ing a cross (pic­ture sim­bolis­es peo­ple “work­ing their job” no mat­ter what they that means eth­i­caly). Thank you a lot!

This is very good, keep it up! The paint­ings in the ceil­ing of the Chapel reli­gious paint­ings.

Unfor­tu­nate­ly this requires Adobe Acro­bat, which is not avail­able on Apple tablets due to an old squab­ble between Apple and Adobe. Wish I could see it it though!

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Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel: In the center part of the ceiling, right above our heads, almost as a warning, Michelangelo describes the history of humanity, from creation to fall. The way to salvation is clear, man has only to choose!

The prophet Jonah

Over the altar is the imposing prophet Jonah who spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale, just as Jesus remained three days in the sepulchre before rising again.

The prophet Jeremiah

The person of Jeremiah is imagined as lost in anguished meditation. Although the painting portrays Jeremiah as lamenting over the Destruction of Jerusalem, critics have interpreted the figure as a self-portrait by Michelangelo, with the artist lamenting over the weight of his sins.

The prophet Zechariah

Prophet Zechariah who had announced the coming of Jesus to restore faith to Israel.

The prophet Ezekiel

Ezekiel exhibits a poignancy of movement that proclaims a strong spiritual direction. His posture differs significantly from that of the sibyls, as he sits firmly on his throne, with both feet fixed on the ground. The prophet’s feet are shown without the embellishments we witness in his female counterparts; sturdy limps that were meant for walking, and reveal the day-to-day routine of the biblical prophet as physically demanding and even grueling.

The prophet Joel

The most engaging part of the fresco is the face of Joel, which appears to reveal wisdom, disdain and intense focus all at once; the open scroll in his hands only enhancing this sense of wisdom.

The prophet Isaiah

Michelangelo's imagining bursts with movement, as Isaiah's cloak swirls around him. The colors in the portrayal – especially after the restoration – strike us as cool and luminous. The figure holds a distinctive blue book to his side, perhaps a depiction of the biblical Book of Isaiah.

The prophet Daniel

It is worth noting that – unlike many other paintings of the period – this portrayal makes no reference to the most famous event from Daniel's life, that is his time in the den of the lions. Instead, Michelangelo shows Daniel reading a great book, which is held up by a muscular figure from beneath it.

The Cumaean Sibyl

The Cumaean Sibyl has an olive complexion, appears to be huge, she wears a strange headpiece and her face is wrinkled. Michelangelo was inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphosis: the Sibyl received from Apollo the gift of as many years of life as grains of sand she could hold in her hand, but she forgot to ask the god for eternal youth and so was destined to live many long years as she slowly and inexorably aged.

The Libyan Sibyl

The Lybian Sibyl seems to be surprised in the act of getting up as she lifts the book of prophecies with her muscular arms, coiling like a snake.

The Delphic Sibyl

The Delphic Sibyl has a surprised look, almost as though she can’t believe that her prophecy has come true; she looks the other way as she unrolls a scroll in her left hand.

The Erythrean Sibyl

The Erythraean Sibyl is said to have been the daughter of a shepherd and a nymph. She lived in Erythrae, Ionia (Asia Minor), on the Aegean Sea. What makes this woman important to Christians is her prediction of Christ, given in the form of an acrostic poem which formed the words, ‘Ihsous Xristos Qeou uios spthr, which means, “Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Saviour.”

The Persian Sibyl

Primordial, totally detached, her eyes focused on things outside this world, and she herself almost a cave of mystery - such is the Persica of the Sistine Chapel.

Separation of Light from Darkness

It is one of five smaller scenes that alternate with four larger scenes that run along the center of the Sistine ceiling. The Separation of Light from Darkness is based on verses 3–5 from the first chapter of the Book of Genesis.

Creation of the sun, moon and planets

It is the second scene in the chronological sequence on the ceiling, depicting the third and fourth day of the Creation narrative. On the left, God is depicted from behind, extending his arm towards a bush, alluding to the plant world. On the right, God points and divides the sun and moon in the heavens.

Separation of Land from Sea

Three cherubim are half hidden in the cosmic cloak, as though foreshadowing the Holy Trinity. And, as though he embodied the World Soul, the figure of God the Father with his powerful hands fills almost the entire space.

Creation of Adam

It is the most well-known of the Sistine Chapel fresco panels, and its fame as a piece of art is rivaled only by the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

Creation of Eve

God decides Adam needs a helper, so he puts Adam into a deep sleep and removes one of his ribs, out of which he forms a woman.

Original Sin and Banishment from the garden of Eden

Michelangelo illustrates simultaneously Original Sin and the banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, two moments that are decidedly divided in the bible tale, thus showing together the cause and the effect generated. The two episodes are separated by the tree of good and evil, around which the serpent is wrapped. He is offering the forbidden fruit to Eve who, against the order of the Lord, will take it to eat it and offer it also to her companion. On the other side of the panel the forefathers, hunted by an angel with an unsheathed sword, leave the Garden of Eden, pained and bent under the burden of remorse for the sin committed.

Sacrifice of Noah

After the Flood Noah builds an altar so that he can thank God. He sacrifices some animals that he saved from drowning earlier.

Michelangelo shows the episode of the Flood in all its drama. In the foreground there is a hill towards which a great multitude of persons, buried under the weight of their personal effects or their relatives, are heading, so hoping to avoid the wrath of God. On the other side they are crowding onto a small island, stretching out their hands to lend aid to those still in danger. In the centre is a boat, about to sink, while in the background is the ark on which, through the will of God, Noah, his family and pairs of animals will be saved.

Drunkenness of Noah

The Drunkenness of Noah is an episode that from the time of St Augustine onward was interpreted as the prefiguration of the mocking of Christ. The humiliation of the patriarch, caused by the fruit of the vine, alludes to the Word that humiliates itself by agreeing to become incarnated in the "vineyard" of Israel.

The Punishment of Haman

Haman decreed that the Jews should bow down before the king on pain of death for failing to do so. Ester, the wife of a Persian king, had the edict annulled causing the death of Haman and saving the Jewish people.

The Brazen Serpent

The Israelites became unhappy at the hardships endured on their journey to the promised land and brought upon themselves the wrath of God. God in his anger sent a plague of serpents against them. When they repented their behaviour he told Moses to make a bronze serpent and anyone who had been bitten by the reptiles would be saved by looking at the bronze statue.

David and Goliath

The giant Goliath had sworn to reduce the Jews to slavery if he defeated their army. Famously the young David fought and killed Goliath with his slingshot.

Judith and Holofernes

Holofernes, a general in the Babylonian army, had orders to attack the Israeli army but Judith, a young Jewish girl, got Holofernes drunk and managed to kill him.

Ancestors of Christ: Jesse

Ancestors of Christ: Asa

Ancestors of Christ: Ezechias

Ancestors of Christ: Iosias

Ancestors of Christ: Zorobabel

Ancestors of Christ: Ozias

Ancestors of Christ: Roboam

Ancestors of Christ: Salmon

Sistine chapel: the ceiling, by michelangelo buonarroti.

In the center part of the ceiling, right above our heads, almost as a warning, Michelangelo describes the history of humanity, from creation to fall. The way to salvation is clear, man has only to choose!

At the center, God looks upward with his back to us and suggests the only way to admire this masterwork : to immerge oneself completely in the fresco until one becomes part of it.

There are nine stories from Genesis :

• Separation of the light from the dark;
• Creation of the stars and plants;
• Separation of the Earth from the waters;
• Creation of Adam;
• Creation of Eve;
• Original Sin and the Expulsion from Eden;
• Sacrifice of Noah;
• The Great Flood;
• Noah’s Drunkenness;

He began to paint the stories in opposite order to their chronology so, starting from the stories of Noah, the most recent ones, going backwards in time to the Creation .

This was not by accident. The artist was heavily influenced by Plato’s theories . According to the Greek philosopher, man had to free himself from the prison of his body to return to his divine origins. And that’s exactly what Michelangelo did, making his tortured work a backwards path towards humanity’s origins.

As in the Genesis stories , the history of the Universe begins with God separating the Light from the Dark . For Michelangelo, nature either didn’t exist or was an enemy of man, the Flood being one example. So the Creation becomes a violent act full of movement.

In the first panel, God is immense, almost escaping the confines of the fresco. As he creates, his image becomes constantly smaller —and this, too, is not by chance: here Michelangelo is following a rabbinical theory that, before the Universe’s existence, God filled everything. As He creates, God slowly becomes ever smaller to leave space for his Creation.

Nothing is left to chance in the Creation of the Universe , nor in the Sistine Chapel ; thus the sun represents Jesus who shines with his own light as the Church shines with his reflected light. The angels that surround God represent both the 4 Seasons and the 4 Elements . The Creator is painted here from behind to remind us that life remains a mystery for man.

At the center of both the Creation and the narration are woman and man. God, as written in the Bible , first created man, taking lifeless clay and then breathing his spirit into his creation. Michelangelo painted both God and Adam symmetrically, with an arm outstretched, to show that man is indeed made in God’s image. Adam seems like an athlete from ancient times, still unmoving, his body on the ground to remind us that it is from the Earth that we come.

The image of God touching Adam with two fingers, infusing him with life, is the most famous image in the whole Chapel, so much so as to become one of the most copied in the world. In Adam’s features we find all the care for the human body that was typical of the Renaissance to underline the idea that man must aspire to perfection. On the other hand, God is shown as an old man but who transfers to man all his creative power, the same power that Michelangelo felt as an artist.

In the scene of Eve’s creation, the three figures form a triangle with God at the top. Woman is born from a rib taken from the sleeping man. Michelangelo shows her as though she is coming out of Adam’s body, to show that the two creatures are indivisible .

The story of Humanity’s Fall begins with the Temptation . But Michelangelo didn’t paint an apple , as you’d expect, not even an apple tree as tradition would have it since the word “ apple ” in Latin, was written “ malum ”, which was also the word for “ evil ”. Here, the tree of sin is a fig tree.

He chose it for two reasons: because the fig leaf was the first thing used to cover man’s nudity after being banished from Paradise, but also because the fig tree was considered by the rabbis to be the tree of Knowledge , under which the learned studied the Law.

The tempter , according to Michelangelo, is half woman, half serpent, to remind us that it was woman who was tempted by the serpent first, sinuous and attractive as it winds around the trunk and has a woman’s features.

The consequences of the expulsion from the Earthly Paradise are shown in the next panel. The angel makes the same gesture as the tempter but this time it isn’t a gesture of attraction but represents the inexorable distancing from Eden. The two painfully accept their destiny, Adam tries to protect them from the angel’s anger and sword with his hands while Eve hides behind him.

In the following scenes, humanity has by this time covered most of the Earth and Michelangelo continues the story showing man’s tragic destiny. The scene of the Flood is desperate and dramatic .

Men hopelessly fight against the elements, not knowing that only Noah, chosen by God, will survive the waters’ furies. Each man carries his poor belongings and, with his family on his shoulders, tries to find some high ground in the hopes of salvation.

A little further on, another part of humanity crowds a small island; some of them hold out their hands in a last desperate gesture of solidarity, to help those who are still in the water. But the well-built Arc holds Noah, his family and their animals as the other little boats sink under the weight of the fearful human beings and the force of natural disasters.

As never before, the water in this panel is a symbol of change and redemption: it washes away evil and flows towards a new life after the flood.

Hope seems to be reborn with the scene of Noah’s drunkenness, referring to the story according to which it was he who first cultivated the grape — and who was first to get drunk from it. Our protagonist returns to till the soil, to give new life to the Earth devastated by the Flood.

This was the first scene painted by Michelangelo . Observing the narrative from the end of the hall, as you slowly arrive towards the beginning of the story over the altar, the scenes become ever more lighter and less dark, there’s almost a sensation of relief; the figures are larger and simpler, until everything is filled only with the clear light of the image of God .

The Sistine Chapel thus becomes a priceless, magic manuscript that can be read from the bottom up, from the left or from the right; wherever you start, you’ll find yourself ...

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Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Virtual Tour

Get the chance to enjoy an unforgettable experience in one of the most fascinating and most visited museums in the world , the Vatican Museums ! Home to some of Italy’s most important artworks —from paintings and sculptures to tapestries and classical antiquities—the Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani) are one of the country’s top attractions . During the virtual tour, you will be led by an art and history passionate guide through this outstanding Museum. Our expert guide will take you on a journey through time as you discover world-renowned works of art collected by generations of Papal rule.

Join us on this engaging experience of a virtual tour! You’ll explore the highlights, hidden gems, and one-of-a-kind masterpieces of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. From the ‘ School of Athens ‘ in the Raphael Rooms to Michelangelo ’s frescos in the Sistine Chapel , you’ll be blown away by it all and as an added bonus, you won’t have to wait in the endless queues at the museums!

Sunday, March 03rd, 2024

03.00 pm – 04.00 pm EST (New York Time)

Check in your timezone here

Time zones examples:

• Rome Time: 09.00 pm
• London Time: 08.00 pm
• Los Angeles Time: 12.00 pm

The tour will last approximately 1 hour. At the end of the tour you will be given the chance to interact and make questions just like a live tour. The tour takes place in English!

⭐PRICE⭐ How much does the virtual tour cost? Our virtual tour is tip-based . We prefer a system where you don’t have to pay for a ticket in advance without knowing how the virtual tour is going to be, instead, you take part in the tour first and at the end, you decide the price based on your satisfaction. Support our cultural activities  with a voluntary contribution. Your contribution will help us continue our initiative and support the guides . You can leave a tip here:

Can’t watch our virtual tour live due to the time zone or are you unable to join us live? Register at the virtual tour and we will send you the recording  hence you can watch it  in your own time!

How to Join:

The tour will be hosted on Zoom. After the registration, you will receive via email a personal link to access the virtual event. To protect your privacy, your camera will be disabled during the event.

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Virtual Tours of Sistine Chapel

There are so many places on my bucket list where I would love to travel, but there’s one place I am dying to visit. Can you guess? I would give you a hint, but I cannot even describe in words on how beautiful this attraction is. I am joking, yes I can and that is exactly what I am going to do for you right now! Get ready everyone, because we are going in a virtual tour to the amazing Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel!

I am very excited to take you on this amazing virtual tour and show you this iconic location. If you have never been to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, then welcome! For those who have, just know I am high-key jealous of you right now– but still come along with us; it’s never a bad time.

Sistine Chapel During COVID

Unfortunately, no one is able to physically visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel during these current times due the pandemic. Thank God for virtual tours , am I right? Look on the bright side, I am literally giving you the inside look, without paying any flights or fees; so you’re welcome!

Before we head on in, let me give you some background knowledge on the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. It is 42,000 meter of pure beauty, located in the state of Vatican City. I know, you are probably thinking, ‘how is it a state when it says it is clearly a city?’. Well, friends, it is an independent state– not to mention the smallest state in the world, with a population of 825 people. Mind blown? Yup, mines too! I am warning you though, more mind blowing coming your way during this virtual tour. We will be walking through the Vatican Museum and ending at the notorious Sistine Chapel so let’s get started!

Court of the Pigna

For our first stop of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel virtual tour, we are standing in this astonishing courtyard called the Court of the Pigna ; but I personally call it “The Pine cone Courtyard”. Reason being, I mean come on, look in front of you! There is a gigantic pine cone right there. This is a cool pine cone, not the ones your grandmother puts out as Christmas decorations. It is a green color and is made up of a gorgeous bronze that sits in the middle or the courtyard surrounded with stairs on each side. This statue was founded in the area of the pantheon and was made by the Ancient Romans almost 2,000 years ago.

Collection of Popes

This is actually a pretty amazing spot. There are a variety of statues, but I was to show you three of my favorite ones. Not only these statues are very artistic, but the backstory behind them are super interesting.

The first statue we have here is called the Statue of Apollo. It was made by the Ancient Romans in the first century of Christ as a copy of an original Greek statue. Apollo was known as the Pagan God– the God of poetry and the God of music. Back then, Apollo represented “classical beauty” in other words in today’s society,he was very good looking. He is not really my type, but to each their own. Apparently, he was so handsome, Michelangelo was inspired by the look of the statue; so he modeled Apollo’s face after Jesus Christ in his paint of The Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel. Don’t worry, we will get there soon enough! The off-white of this statue gives it that beautiful definition, It is an absolute masterpiece!

The next statue is pretty interesting. This one is called the Laocoön; sounds so fancy with the accent and everything. If you have heard of the ancient story Troy and the Trojan Horse, this is what this statue is based on. For those who are not familiar with the story, let me give you the rundown really quickly.

So, basically, he was a Priest that was trying to warn the Trojans from accepting the horse as a gift from the Greeks, but no listened to him. As a result, since the Gods were on the Greeks side, he was punished by being killed by snakes– and that is exactly what the statue is showing.

The expressions and detail or this art piece seems so legit. The statue was founded in Downtown Rome in the beginning of the 1500’s. Michelangelo told the Pope Julius II, who was pope at the time, to go get it because it was something special. Obviously, he was not wrong, because it is sitting here in the Vatican Museum during the virtual tour today.

Statue of Apollo and Laocoön

The Statue of Apollo and the Laocoön are very important art pieces because they were both the first statue to enter the Vatican Museum (previously known as the palace), but this last one is a little less important, but it is a great piece. This one is called the River God also known as Arno. It represents the river or Arno which is located in Florence, Italy. Back then, rivers represent men with huge beards; like the one in this statue.

It was founded at the time of Pope Leo X in the 1500’s. The way this statue honors Pope Leo X, they added a lion’s face inside the vase which the bearded man is holding. Not going to lie, but I kind of jumped back when I saw that. I just thought that was a super clever way for an artist to create a legacy of Pope Leo X.

Hall of the Muses

Wow, look at us! We have already been through two whole courtyards at the Vatican Museum. I don’t know about you, but I am loving this. Anyway, we have officially entered inside. Looking around right now is breathtaking, and we are not even at the Sistine Chapel yet! I cannot imagine the expression on my face once we get there; but look where right now. Welcome to the Hall of the Muses. Along the sides of the red walls we see statues of figures called muses. Muses are the protectors of art, music, and poetry. A fun fact is the words “museum” and “music” comes from the word “muses”. Are you amused? Here I go again with my cringe humor, sorry everyone.

Let’s go to the center of the room and look at this next art piece. This is called the Torso. I mean, if you look at it, you can clearly see how it got its name. It is just a plain torso; no arms, no legs, and no head. Bizarre, right? It’s an important piece though; reason being because it was made in the first century before Christ. Also, if you look towards the bottom of the torso in the center, you will see a signature; which is very rare for ancient art like this piece of marble.

Gallery of Maps

Who needs a GPS when you have the Gallery of Maps? This is a really cool and narrow hall in the Vatican Museum. The left and right side of the walls are covered with maps with different regions of Italy. The east coast of Italy is on one side, and the West coast of Italy is on the other side. It was painted at the end of the 1500’s and the paintings are very detailed.

For example, let’s look over here. Right here on the map is Lazio, Rome. It is so detailed, you see places such as the Tiger River and even the Vatican! It does not look like this anymore since it was painted a very long time ago. This Gallery of Maps was commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII; also known as the man who reformed the gregorian calendar.

The Raphael Rooms: The Room of the Segnatura

The Raphael Rooms are one of the most iconic rooms in the Museum. They consist of four different rooms. It was formerly known as Pope Julius the II’s private apartment. He called up one of the most famous painters of all time, Raphael to paint and decorate it.

Out of all four of these rooms, the most well-known room is the Room of the Segnatura. It used to be the Pope’s library, but then became the tribunal of the church for signing a bunch of documents; which is why it has it’s name.

The most famous painting in this room is The School of Athens. It is a beautiful painting of people walking in a building that is about to be build; which is St. Peter’s Basilica. Some of the people in the frescoe are included and represented with great minds of the ancient times. Both well-known philosophers Plato and Aristotle who are in the center of the masterpiece.

Sistine Chapel

We made it to homestretch! Of course, I had to save the best for last; the Sistine Chapel. It is famous for its mind blowing paint of The Last Judgement by Michelangelo, and also this is the exact place where the election takes place of the new Pope. The Sistine Chapel was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV and it was also named after him. At the end of the 15th century, he was called the best artists in Tuscany and they created this beautiful frescoe side walls of the right and left hand side. As you look, these are paintings of Moses’ old testament and Jesus’ new testament.

Now, look up; looks familiar, right? Pope Julius II called Michelangelo to paint this now famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. As you look up, look in the center. That is a painting that represents Genesis, which is the creation of the world in the Bible. Isn’t it crazy how the beginning of the world is right above our heads?

The most iconic part of this ceiling is the Creation of Adam. You know, the once painting when Adam and God are reaching for reaching each other. It is showing Adam with no energy because he is about to receive life for the first time. Also, if you notice behind God is a shape of a human brain. Michelangelo was trying to send a message to us as viewers that we need to use the brain God has given us because it is a beauty.

Closing Time

Alright, now look straight at the wall in front of you. This is a big painting of The Last Judgement. I am not here to give you a Religion lecture, but if you do not know the story behind this painting; long story short, it is the day when Jesus comes back to earth and decides who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. In the center you would notice a beautiful detailed painting of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary along with Saints and others surrounding them in heaven.

Now, look towards the bottom right, that is hell. I got some tea for you right now. Michelangel was on a whole other level of pettiness when painting this, I am going to tell you why. If you look in the corner, you will notice a naked man with snakes and creepy figures around him. The man in the painting is named Biagio and he was an assistant at The Vatican. He would complain about the naked figures Michelangelo would paint in the Sistine Chapel– so that is why Michelangelo decided to include him in this famous piece of art. That is hilarious!

Well, that is a wrap! I hope you all had a great time on this amazing virtual tour. This was a pretty good one, and I hope to see you all again at The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.

About The Author: Sean Boyle

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The Vatican Museums Have Free Virtual Tours, Including One Where You Can See the Sistine Chapel

The 360º views are absolutely breathtaking.

Start with a 360º view of Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel . While the painted ceiling is a showstopper, each chapel wall explores a different aspect of the Christian faith journey: the stories of Moses, Christ, and the Popes throughout history. Then work your way through the remaining Vatican museums: Pio Clementino Museum , Chiaramonti Museum , New Wing , Raphael's Rooms , Niccoline Chapel , and Room of the Chiaroscuri .

Right now, Vatican City — like many other public gathering spaces around the world — is completely empty. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak , the Italian government issued a national lockdown, causing Pope Francis to cancel all public appearances through April 3. In the meantime, you can get a glimpse of what the Vatican is like in real time with an around-the-clock live stream , which includes the Pope's daily mass.

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Sansevero Chapel Virtual Tour: Art and Alchemy in Baroque Naples

Discover the mysterious world of the Sansevero prince and a fascinating tale of art and alchemy in Baroque Naples

• tour overview
• tour description
• tour reviews

duration 1.5 hours

Tour Overview

The Veiled Christ of the Sansevero Chapel is one of the most fascinating and mysterious works that can be seen in Naples and in Italy. It is said that the marble veil on the body of Christ is actually a fabric veil, transformed into rock thanks to a special liquid invented by the sinister Prince of Sansevero, an illustrious alchemist. Many, however, argue that the surprising effect is all the result of the talent of Giuseppe Sanmartino, the sculptor who created the veiled Christ. The discovery of a secret room and some macabre works, visible in the Sansevero Chapel, helped to give the Prince and the veiled Christ an aura of mystery. The Chapel is worth a visit not only for Christ but also for the other works present in this little gem hidden in the alleys of Naples: a place rich in esoteric and religious symbols. Join Andrea on this fascinating virtual journey into the mysterious world of one of the most fascinating figures in the history of Naples today! If the day of the week or start time of this group tour doesn't work for you, please email us at [email protected] to arrange a suitable alternative date.

• Live broadcast from Naples
• Immersive webinar with local guide Andrea
• In-depth exploration of the Sansevero Chapel
• Have your questions answered by Andrea

• The Sansevero Chapel
• The Veiled Christ
• The Anatomical Machines
• Learn about the fascinating world of early-modern alchemy

Tour Description

Meet your guide: andrea.

Hi I’m Andrea! A native of Naples, I’ve lived in the Campania region of Italy all my life, and I have a deep love for its art, archeology, music, architecture, cuisine, natural beauty and - of course - its people. I have shared this world with many, many visitors over the years,showcasing the vast range of this wonderful place. When I was 14 years old I started working as an actor in theatres, and this plays a central role in how I communicate on my tours today -    I always try to put something theatrical into everything I do :-)

What Exactly is a Through Eternity Virtual Tour?   

The world of travel might be on hold right now, but just because we're all staying at home to help the world overcome a common enemy doesn't mean we have to put our wanderlust on the back burner. Frustrated with not being able to get our travel fix, we decided to transform our award-winning tours into immersive virtual experiences, meaning you can still explore Italy’s spectacular archaeological sites and jaw-dropping museums from the comfort of your own home.

As a sign of our gratitude to those who are on the front line fighting the Coronavirus, we would be more than happy to invite all  first responders ,  health workers  and  NHS workers  to join our Virtual Tours for free. Please message our office staff directly!

* Please note that the booking times are in US Eastern Standard Time and Rome, Italy CET is 6 hours ahead *

Fun and informative , our virtual tours take the form of online  real-time presentations  led by our  expert guides . Combining videos, high-definition photos and more, our guides will be sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience with you on these interactive walkthroughs of Italy’s most fascinating sites. The  live format  of our virtual tours means you’ll be able to ask your guide anything you wish, just like on a normal tour. We really believe it's the next best thing to being here!

Please note that the proceeds from our online tours go directly to our guides, providing them with a valuable lifeline in these tough times for the world of travel. Thank you for your support!  

Tour Reviews

5.0 (7 reviews)

Somehow I had not known about this chapel when I physically visited Naples, but was very intrigued by it when I took Andrea's Through Eternity virtual tour of Naples earlier this year and he spent a few minutes on it. I had somehow missed until recently that he had started doing a specialized virtual tour just on the chapel, so I was very pleased to discover this tour was available, and the tour exceeded my expectations. The sculptures are stunning, the hidden layers of meaning are so thick and rich, and usually photos are not allowed so it is a rare treat to see photos of it. I highly recommend this tour.

Liz - Nov 12, 2020

It was a wonderful experience! I have been to the Capella Sansevero many times but I learned so much more about it from my virtual tour with Andrea Fiorillo. He is a very good tour guide, he has so much information and gives it in a very interesting way. I plan to do many more virtual tours.

Anita - Nov 03, 2020

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