The Sistine Chapel is a chapel located in Vatican City. It is famous for the frescoes and tapestries which adorn its interior; some of the most famous names in Italian art are represented in the Sistine Chapel, including Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Signorelli. Visitors to the Vatican can enter the Sistine Chapel to admire the art, and the chapel is also used for important religious ceremonies, including the Papal Conclave, where the bishops meet to elect a new head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Sixtus IV is responsible for the construction of the Sistine Chapel, also known as the Capella Sistina. He ordered the construction of the chapel on the site of the Capella Maggiore, which was in a state of extreme disrepair when construction began in 1473. Nine years later, the Sistine Chapel was finished, and named after its progenitor. It took several more decades for the art inside to be completed; the famous ceiling, for example, was not finished until 1512.

Architecturally, the Sistine Chapel is not terribly remarkable. From the outside, it is actually a bit dull, being a simple rectangular brick building with large windows. On the inside, however, the Sistine Chapel is an incredible work of art, with frescoes all over its walls and ceilings. The frescoes depict momentous events from the Christian Bible, ranging from the creation of Adam to the Last Judgment. The Sistine Chapel's ceiling is particularly notable; it features incredible work by Michelangelo.

In addition to being used for the Papal Conclave, the Sistine Chapel also hosts a number of masses and other religious events every year, typically with the Pope presiding. Unfortunately, the structure suffered damage through 500 years of use, leading to widespread restoration in the middle of the 20th century. The restoration efforts started in the 1960s, and concluded in the 1990s; some controversy accompanied some of the techniques used, with members of the artistic and religious community being concerned about accidental damage to the original works of art.

Some people consider the Sistine Chapel a triumph of human achievement, as it encapsulates some of the most incredible art in the Western world. Should you ever be near the Vatican, making time to visit the Sistine Chapel is highly recommended, as the lush frescoes and tapestries which adorn it are simply incredible in person.