It’s one of the holiest sites in the Catholic church—and one of the most sacred spots in the history of art. It’s the Sistine Chapel, and it was inagurated 500 years ago on October 31, 1512 by Pope Julius II. All those centuries ago, the pope led mass under Michelangelo’s still-wet masterpiece. Today, 20,000 people a day admire the artist’s ... Read More »
Tag Archives: Sistine Chapel
News: Sistine Chapel Under Attack
If you have ever visited Michelagelo’s breathtaking Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, you will know that much of the awe is marred by the shoulder to shoulder tourists filling the surprisingly small space. Tourists who are talking loudly and being shouted at by guards to not take pictures. So when last week the Vatican museum’s director, Antonio Paoluccio, announced ... Read More »
See the Sistine Chapel … Without Ever Leaving Home
Being travel guides, we always advocate putting your heels to the pavement and seeking out art, music and film locations yourself. Flipping through a coffee-table book of Caravaggios naturally pales in comparison to seeing his Contarelli Chapel murals up close and in person. But even we have to admit that one can’t see every worthwhile piece of art or ... Read More »
Disaster Movie
Yesterday we had a good laugh at the expense of the cast of ‘2012.’ But a look at the film’s official trailer got us thinking … is no landmark safe from Hollywood effects people? Can you spot the ones that get destroyed in ‘2012’? Let’s find them…after the jump. Read More »
‘Angels’ in Italy
Despite the success of ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ and maybe in part because of it, this summer’s smash hit ‘Angels and Demons‘ didn’t have an easy ride to the cineplex. The 2008 Screen Actors Guild strike meant on-location filming was limited to a 3-week Roman blitz. Not only that, but the Pope’s people, unhappy with ‘Da Vinci,’ put the kibosh ... Read More »