Tag Archive | "Sistine Chapel"

Rome: Visit The Birthplace of Western Civilization


The city has been ruled by emperors and popes. Gladiators once fought there for their freedom. And Julius Caesar, Emperor Augustus, and Raphael Sanzio once called the city their home. Simply put, Rome is one of the birthplaces of western civilization. Today, the capital city of Italy is a hub for the arts, music, literature, culture, and fine dining.

Sites To Visit In Rome
Considered one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the world, Rome is filled with museums, palaces, churches, priceless works of art, theaters, and basilicas. Some of the must-see tourist stops include:
* The Colosseum, built around 70 AD, is one of the most popular tourist stops in Rome. Tourists can see where gladiators once battled during the glory days of the Roman Empire.
* The Forum and the nearby Circus Maximus is located close to the Colosseum. Rome’s leaders once ran the Empire in the palaces and municipal buildings of the Forum.
* The Pantheon has served as a Catholic church since the 7th Century, but it was originally built as a temple to the Roman gods.
* The Vatican, located within Vatican City, is home to famous museums and sculptures, not to mention the new Pope. While there, see Michelangelo’s The Creation at the Sistine Chapel.

Where To Stay
For the best deals, check out some of the various hotel comparison sites like ProntoHotel.com. Want to book your room near the iconic Trevi Fountain? Or maybe a boutique hotel near the Spanish Steps? Rome has endless hotel possibilites, so you’re certain to find something that fits both your budget and your personality perfectly.

Enjoy your trip into history!

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Michelangelo in Rome: the Sistine Chapel


There are many traces of Michelangelo in Rome, starting from St Peter’s and the  Sistine Chapel to  Farnese Palace,  the Capitol Square,  the Moses in San Pietro in Vincoli or even the decorations of the Pauline Chapel. But maybe the most impressive of these works  is the decoration of the vault of the Sistine Chapel in Rome  and  ‘The last judgement’ since painting was not the first profession of the sculptor Michelangelo. Where one  stood a starry sky painted by Pier Matteo D’Amelia,  the contract stipulated by Pope Julius II with Michelangelo in 1508 started a project that would result, some  years later,  in a ceiling  with biblical episodes, episodes from the Genesiis, the creation of our forefathesrs  and  ended in the painting of  the Last Judgement on the wall behind the altar. The original choice of the subject included the series of the twelve apostles but was later changed into an articulated iconographic program imposed by Michelangelo: the fate of mankind from  the primordial chaos  and the mythical origins of the world to the Redemption. Words cannot describe this titanic painting  and therefore there isnly a solution: a visit to the Sistine Chapel.

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