Best Destinations in Italy
With its natural beauty, incredible food, art, and style, Italy is a destination where even one visit is not enough.
When in Rome
What to visit in Rome Italy? With over 900 churches, no other city in the world is so representative for the Catholic faith. Rome has four papal basilicas and seven pilgrimage churches. Each church is more beautifully decorated than the last, with works by the great masters such as Bernini, Raphael, Caravaggio and Michelangelo. As an art lover, you will feel right at home in the Galleria Borghese. All these Roman sights and excavations, the beautiful churches, the Vatican, the fun neighborhoods like Trastevere, beautiful fountains – including the famous Trevi Fountain) – tasty trattorias, a picture on the romantic Spanish Steps and trendy fashion shops make Rome a chaotic and bustling metropolis where you can easily keep yourself entertained for at least a week.
The Vatican
Even though there are many amazing architectural sites in Italy such as The Leaning Tower of Pisa, there are also many educating museums. The absolute highlight of the route through the Vatican museums is a visit to the Sistine Chapel. The name is derived from the founder of the chapel, pope Sixtus IV. The impressive ceiling of this 15th-century Sistine Chapel was painted in the 16th century by Michelangelo.
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is mostly known for being the space where the cardinals meet for conclave when electing a new pope. In addition to this, it is also home to many incredibly famous paintings.
- The Creation of Adam (Michelangelo)
- The School of Athens (Raphael)
- Deposition (Caravaggio)
Art is about emotion. It is an artist unleashing their innermost thoughts and feelings onto canvas for all to witness. It is such a powerful act, that many have been criticized, scrutinized, and even killed just for doing the act. Feel these emotions at the Sistine Chapel.
- Michelangelo
- an Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet of the High Renaissance.
- Raphael
- an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance.
Here are some facts about the famous Sistine Chapel ceiling.
- The Sistine Chapel ceiling’s most famous panel might depict a human brain.
- Contrary to popular belief, Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel in a standing position.
- Working on the Sistine Chapel was so unpleasant that Michelangelo wrote a poem about his misery.