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Vatican Museums via EPA
Experts claim that Michelangelo's famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel are under threat from hordes of tourists.
VATICAN CITY -- A "drunken herd" of "unruly" tourists is damaging Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel paintings, one of Italy's leading arts figures claimed as the pope prepared to mark the 500th anniversary of the iconic frescoes’ creation.
Some 5 million people visit the chapel every year – sometimes as many as 20,000 in a single day -- and an increasing number of experts are now arguing that mass tourism is damaging the paintings.
Despite a major, 14-year-long restoration project in the 1990s, they claim that the breath, sweat, dust and pollution brought in by visitors dramatically changes the Chapel’s humidity and temperature – factors to which frescoes are particularly sensitive.
On Wednesday night, Pope Benedict XVI will recite the vespers in the Sistine Chapel, just as his predecessor Julius II did 500 years ago to the day.
Julius commissioned the paintings and, along with 17 cardinals, first admired the completed works, such as the Last Judgment and the Creation of Adam, as they celebrated vespers on Oct. 31, 1512.
'Unimaginable disaster'
In an article recently published by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera (in Italian), Pietro Citati, one of Italy’s leading arts and literary critics, called the conditions in the chapel an "unimaginable disaster."
He described the "unruly" tourists as a "drunken herd" who take forbidden pictures and speak loudly despite the guards’ reprimands.
"The church needs money for its various activities," Citati wrote, "but these monstrous conditions are unacceptable."
Michelangelo's fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, is one of the world's most iconic pieces of art from the Renaissance. Its 500th anniversary is being marked today by Pope Benedict XVI with the celebration of Vespers in the chapel. NBC's Claudio Lavanga reports.
Marco Nocca, a professor at the Art Academy in Rome, agreed.
"I understand that 5 million paying visitors per year is good business for the Vatican, but something needs to be done to limit the damage," he said.
"If they can’t restrict the number of people who visit the chapel, then maybe they should time the visits so that there are only a limited number of people in the chapel at any given time," Nocca added.
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NBC News visited the chapel one early October morning, before the gates opened to the public.
Emptied of the usual hordes of tourists, the chapel looked for once like it used to, before it became an unofficial art gallery: a place for religious worship.
The sore neck is worth it
The frescoes on the 12,000-square-foot ceiling, which contain some 300 figures, seemed like a massive biblical cartoon strip, and the silence was only broken by the thumps produced by our steps on the polished marble floors.
Never has a sore neck been more worth it, as we tilted our heads backwards for minutes to admire the ceiling.
Vatican reports it's nearly $19 million in the red
And this was small discomfort compared to the spasms, cramps and headaches Michelangelo suffered during the four years it took him to paint this most magnificent work of art, on scaffoldings and platforms he designed to literally rise to the occasion.
For renowned sculptor Helaine Blumenfeld, happiness is a big block of marble, and there's no better place for it than the town where Michelangelo used to get his stone. NBC's Kevin Tibbles reports.
Aside from being the most famous chapel in the the pope's official residence, the Sistine Chapel is also the place where pontiffs are elected -- a rare occasion when the chapel closes its doors to the public to make way for hundreds of electing cardinals.
Botched restoration turns Spanish church into tourist attraction
The director of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci, told NBC News that a new air conditioning system would introduced early next year.
But forbidding tourists was not an option, he stressed.
"This is not only an art sanctuary, it is also a religious sanctuary, a symbol of the Catholic Church. We can't prevent people from visiting a holy place," Paolucci said.
Hours after Benedict recites vespers late Wednesday, thousands of tourists will return to pack the chapel, unfazed by the criticism.
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- Expert: Tourists threaten Sistine Chapel's famous paintings
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I winder how much the church payed the artist.
The book Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King is a good account of Michelangelo's work on the Sistene Chapel. It's a bit dry in places and maybe a bit sensationistic in others. But f you're at all interested in art history or in Michelangelo'w work, it is definitely a worthwhile book.
The book covers all the aspects of the work including the influence of the pope and the Vatican as well as the working conditions, artistic struggles, political interference, and other factors. It does mention the exact amount he was paid (which I don't recall) because it was in units (ducats) that are totally meaningless to someone from the 21st century. However, I do recall that he was paid very well--that is, much much more than a typical artist-for-hire would command at the time. (At the time he was commissioned to do the Sistene Chapel, Michelangelo was already something of an artistic celebrity.) But, according to the book, for various reasons the Vatican did not make the payments due to Michelangelo on time or even with any regularity. It was typically the case that Michelangelo's compensation lagged his actual work by many months or even years.
Drunken herds? Nonsense. Yes, there are a lot of tourists going through the Sistine Chapel, but the majority are well-behaved, respectful, and follow the no-photos rule. Most visitors have already spent an hour or two admiring the objects in the Vatican museum and are usually tired and fairly quiet in the Sistine Chapel.
Be aware, though, that the Sistine Chapel will probably seem much smaller than it looks in pictures and it will likely be filled with other tourists when you visit. Either the Vatican should quit whining or they should institute tighter visitor limits and raise the price for the general public. I recommend they impose a fine for tourists who take unauthorized photos and use that to increase funding for chapel restoration.
perhaps a glass tunnel of some kind, front to back, no pollution. problem solved. I'll email the Pope.
"payed"? Seriously? Try "paid". You are as bad as all of those who write "loose" when they mean "lose".
Dear Pope
Call them drunken herds and they will become drunken herds.
Catholics are very obedient.
I was there about 18 months ago. The tour of the entire place is very nice, but very long. The Sistine Chapel was a big disappointment. As you can see from the photo of the empty chapel, the ceiling is very high, probably around 50 feet. Unless you have field glasses, you cannot see any details. This is why people try to take photos when the guards are not looking. This is the only point of the tour that photos are forbidden. This is mainly due to the fact that you are let out of the tour at the store which has beautiful photos of the ceiling for sale for lots of money.
There is a small potential for flash photography to damage paintings by fading the colors. One flash isn't much, but thousands every day can have an effect. And the constant flashing can be distracting to other visitors there to admire the artwork, especially in an enclosed space like the Chapel.
Not everything is a conspiracy.
It is such a same to see the hoardes of people disrespecting the guards (the artist, the others) and clicking their cameras, ignoring the rules that are in place to salvage what is left of this great masterpiece. "Just one flash won't hurt." With the millions & millions of people who walk through their thinking the same thing and flashing their camera, the beautiful piece will soon be destroyed. Everybody should be able to appreciate the Sistine Chapel whether it is now or many years down the road.
I was fortunate enough to view it in person and was embarrassed by my fellow countrymen who had absolutely no respect. Rules are in place for a reason. And no, Jimmy, it is not a conspiracy! These are delicate pieces that will not last unless we respect them.
They don't let you take pictures even with your flash turned off, so Jimmy is correct in that they're trying to squeeze every last tourist dollar out of you.
I was there last month and it's ok and worth seeing but not all it is hyped up to be IMHO. Maybe because I am not religious.
Wonder
While it's true that the hordes of tourists may be contributing to the deterioration of the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican has done nothing to protect it and the hall leading to it. The building is not climate-controlled. The huge windows are open, letting in heat, humidity, car exhaust - all the polluted air of Rome. I believe this fact is more important than all the tourists' sweat and body heat and illegal camera flashes. Further, this is true of the cathedrals as well. Frescos need to be protected but Rome and the Vatican are the ones to blame, not the tourists.
Most museums and art galleries control the temperature and humidity to protect their works of art. If the Vatican and Rome did the same, these valuable paintings and frescos wouldn't be in as much danger.
I'm not sure that's possible without making major changes to the building. The Chapel is literally packed wall-to-wall; the doors are constantly opening so any air system would be grossly inefficient, and you'd have to make holes in the walls to accommodate the venting. Trying to control the atmosphere inside the room could ruin it.
My husband and I visited the Vatican and Sistine Chapel in September this year. I was expecting a very spiritual experience and was quite taken aback by the number of tourists crowded in shoulder to shoulder. We were on a tour with Dark Rome Tours, and our guide told us there would be no talking, only whispering, and no picture taking. The 'herds' of people were rude, loud and taking pictures with flashes constantly. The guards would ask for quiet, the noise would lower for a few seconds, then start right up again. It's a magnificiant holy place and it's too bad that there isn't some way to limit the number of people at a time. I was awed by the chapel, but saddened by the lack of respect for it.
The "drunken hordes" is such a bunch of BS, although not surprising coming coming from the Catholic lapdogs. The rules in place to get into view these works of art and other places in the Vatican are SO strict and prohibitive, that not only would you not be allowed entry if you are drunk, visitors are turned away for improper dress and headcoverings (or lack thereof), to many backpacks or purses, ABSOLUTELY NO food or drink of ANY kind, and they will confiscate your cameras and/or phones if pictures are taken. I must say the Vatican guard do their job beyond reproach, but the $$ overide all respect for the works. Just another ploy by the Vatican to claim a treasure that belongs to all of human kind as only available to themselves. Another outdated male heirarchy still trying to control with an iron fist. Don't bother with the comments about not knowing what I am talking about, as I have been there, done that, and I was raised Catholic, practiced it, until I educated myself thoroughly about it.
I'll reply anyway. Most of what you say is true but there isn't any requirement for covering your head, male or female. We were there in April and that just doesn't exist. yes there is a dress code but it's barely enforced. Just no short shorts or bare bellys. It's not too much to ask for people to be respectful.
I was there in 2008 and you also had to have your shoulders covered... luckily, my tour guide had warned us ahead of time and I brought a sweater to throw on. I had no problem doing that or being respectful in the chapel. I am not Catholic, but I was awed by the art nonetheless.
the only way to be drunk after 2+ hours walking through the galleries to get there is if you were drinking along the way.
If they were really concerned, they could control access.
While the body heat and humidity and camera flashes might be contributing to the Sistine Chapel's deterioration, it is the actually the Vatican which is guilty for not having these places climate-controlled. The long hall with its magnificent frescos leading to the Chapel have large open windows allowing heat, humidity and the polluted Rome air into the whole area. Further, this is true in Italy's cathedrals and museums. And they wonder why these frescoes, paintings, statues, etc. are being ruined? These are buildings that can be fitted with climate controls for temperature and humidity to protect what is inside. It was shocking to us when we were there that this was the case while the guards were so concerned about talking and camera flash. They herded people in and out with not a lot of time to appreciate the work. I think it's laughable that these experts are blaming tourists. They should look at how they protect these works. Any decent museum and art gallery keep the temperature and humidity controlled.
Nothing lasts forever. We were there 2 years ago and the church eagerly takes your cash for the tour
I'm saying, who cares about these worthless relics that are meaningless to virtually everyone on earth outside of a handfull of specialists. Committ them to the flames I say - humanity would be no worse off for it. Besides, the sheer fanaticism with which people try to preserve these things is absolutely hilarious. Again, who cares about this junk...
...but then again, I guess college students need SOME excuse to go to Europe besides getting drunk in a foreign country and throwing up all over the place.
...only pretty much the entire world of tourism and art appreciation. It sounds like you are neither a tourist, nor do you care much about art. Which is understandable if you've got more pressing issues in your life--like repressing a soviet revolution or whatever else is going on in New England these days.
Meh, art appreciation is for the Ph.D not the average person. The average person doesn't have the biblical, church, or art background to even BEGIN to make sense of something like the Sistine Chapel. It's no great loss - most of them will live happy lives without it which is exactly why I say commit it to the flames - we'd be no worse.
Besides, it'd save people from dropping ridiculous amounts of money to go halfway around the world to stare at stones and paint. Just idea of making a pilgrimage to stare at this worthless stuff is pretty funny when you think of it in a way.
We'd be no worse off if Travis were committed to the flames. Probably better off. BTW, people dropping ridiculous amounts of money tends to boost the economy (whatever they choose to drop it on).
We visited the Sistine Chapel this past November and I too was surprised at the number of open windows letting in the damp air, and vehicle exhaust. So it seems a bit surprising that there is such a concern of people damaging the works of art when no preventative measures are taken. As a side note-- I asked a guard about photo-taking and he and the other 3 guards told me it was fine and actually made room for me to take photos.
A masterpiece of art; the media says that no one should be able to see it. Makes a lot of sense if you are a news journalist and a moron. This is probably the single place in the world where many many common people can actually view a magnificent series of paintings. Let them see it and restore the site when it needs it.
There is so much to see at the Vatican that the Sistine Chapel (aside from the aforementioned hordes) is a very minor part of it. There are many other frescoes that are just as impressive not just there, but at other churches throughout Rome that don't charge an entry fee. It's just the name that attracts visitors, not the artistic importance or history of that particular chapel.
Borghesi uses timed tickets, and they don't seem to be suffering for income. The art museum in my city uses timed tickets for travelling exhibits. So does the science museum. Oh yeah, and every other major museum on the planet. So why not the Vatican museums?
What's funny is that most Roman museums prohibit photography altogether, even non-flash photography. This is not to avoid some imagined damage, but rather to coerce tourists into purchasing postcards and photos from their gift shops.
Funnier still: I had asked prior permission to take a portrait of my wife & I at some private garden (that charges an entry fee), and they stated that there was a 500 Euro fee for portrait sessions. "What about snapshots" I asked, to which they replied snapshots are fine and we can take those for free with our entry fee just like all the other tourists. I never was able to wring from them the difference between a portrait and a snaphot, or why that difference amounted to 500 Euros. So we skipped it altogether and went to a public garden.
Maybe for 'portrait sessions' they ensure that the area remains clear of other people. Essentially closing the garden for a period of time.
They also have a very beautiful church in Savannah, GA. We took a tour a few yrs back Savannah is a fairly historic city.
Fairly. LOL
Rome - established 753 B.C.
Savannah, GA - established 1733 A.D.
Hardly in the same league.
That's why I said fairly because it's not as historic as Rome. It is pre revolutionary war though.
We were there in late July and were surprised that unlike other European museums there is no effort made to limit or otherwise schedule visitors. The chapel itself was packed full, and despite the two guards at the front constantly trying to shout above the din and prohibit pictures they were largely ignored. Limiting or scheduling visitors might have the dual effect of preserving the chapel and also promoting respect of the holy place. Someone mentioned that the Vatican Museums are not climate controlled and that contributes to the chapel's deterioration--it's true for all but the most modern parts. Most of the museum was sweltering in the July heat of over 90 degrees, and windows were open to the Roman pollution and elements. Surprising considering much of the attraction on display is the building and frescoes themselves. Of course, these are centuries-old buildings and installing climate control could cause more damage than it would prevent.
They have a beach like that on Oahu HI limited to the 1st. 1500 people per day if I remember correctly.
It's a tremendous work of art depicting some of the most popular made up characters in human history, and the Vatican should take whatever steps necessary to preserve it...
.....depicting some of the most popular made up characters in human history...........'made up???"..........Absolutely WRONG!! They existed............just like you and I do.....
As someone who has taken the tour of the vatican, getting to the Sistine Chapel is the main point of the tour, so they will never drop that from the tour. However once in the chapel, don't follow the rest of the tour, as it's just too long, Go out the back door to the left of where you entered and follow the stairs out to the plaza. Enough already.
Follow the directions given by Rick Steve's in his Italy/Rome book for seeing the Vatican and how best to exit the Sistine Chapel. Worked great.
I have been to aquariums where people literally walk in a tube like structure and the fish swim all around them. Why not construct something similar so that the tourists can tour but their presence will not affect the controlled environment necessary to preserve the works of art?
And how would you remove it for the services?
Roll it out, of course. It is a functioning Chapel.
It is a chapel, a place of worship. It is not a museum. Imagine, for example, if one were to disrespect the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
The last time I visited the Chapel was the day John Paul II died. It occurred to me that would be the last day for visitors until the election of the next pope. Sure enough, the Chapel was closed to the public the next day.
Perhaps because of what was happening near by (the pope was dying), the crowds were somewhat muted. Nevertheless, the guards had to ask several times for "silencio."
We visited the Chapel in Sept 2011, and indeed, most of (not all) the tourists were acting like drunken hoardes. I really wanted to spend some time looking at each part of the frescoe, but we were herded through like a bunch of cattle and it was wall-to-wall people. The Vatican really needs to come up with a better plan. Maybe schedule (with a reservation) smaller groups every 10-15 minutes or so.
Here's how to get people to follow the rules. Anyone that breaks the rules in the Sistine Chapel will be burned at the stake as a heretic. After the first two people will pay attention.
How about constructing a climate controlled plexiglass tunnel that goes through the Sistine Chapel? You could actually put seats on a converyoer belt that goes through slowly, 6 or 8 wide, if need be. That way, if anyone tries to take a photo, all they will get is the reflection of their flash. A photo without the flash would come out OK and not compromise the artwork. It would also eliminate the need for open windows, etc. I have to be honest, when it took me up to 2 hours just to get to it, I was happy to look around and move on to the next tourist trap.
How would you remove it for the services? It is a functioning chapel, not an amusement park ride.
We were there in August this year. The tour guide, at 50 Euros per person for a family of four, was incredibly rude. She left us standing in a sunny courtyard that was at least 102 degrees for almost an hour while she had us looking at a POSTER of the chapel. She talked about every single person she felt was "interesting" who was depicted in the Sistine Chapel paintings. It was so hot that one of my kids fainted! The guide never noticed that we had a potential emergency, she was so wrapped up in her schpiel. We abandoned the tour at that point. After some water, electrolytes and food, my child asked to go ahead to see the famous chapel. It took us another hour of walking through hot filthy crowded hallways where all of the windows were open to the pollution of Rome before we got to the chapel. Frankly, the chatter of the crowd did not bother us nearly as much as the useless guards constantly yelling "quiet, hokay!" bothered everyone. Art appreciation? Impossible under the circumstances. Damage to the paintings? Certainly but not from the tourists. Damage to the paintings by the open windows, heat, humidity and pollution? Definitely! Damage to the paintings from guards yelling "quiet, hokay" into loud speakers? For sure! Would I ever pay 50 Euros per person for such a scam ever again? Never in a million years. Spending half of a two hour guided tour standing in front of a POSTER to listen to some grim religious nut talk about her heroes was not what was advertised. We paid the same amount for a guided tour of the Coliseum and it was worth every cent as the friendly guide showed us the inner workings of the actual Coliseum, not a poster of it. The Vatican Museum is mismanaged and not worth your time in the current circumstances. Save your money. Go to the Pantheon where the guards still yell "quiet, hokay" but at least they do it for free!
Wouldn't have anything to do with the fragrant oleoresins in the buckets of Hugo, Calvin and Nino Ricci they buy duty-fee and use to mask a lack of proper hygiene or the simple smell of humanity, would it?
Lots of people have breathed and sweated their way through the Sistine Chapel without noticeable damage.
The church appreciates the $22 admission fee. They can restrict the number of tourists anytime they wish.
The Sistine chapel was an utter disappointment, a poorly lit painting much smaller than I expected on a ceiling. Skip the Vatican museum all together not worth the price or the line.
Many of us find the various activities of "the church" monstrous and unacceptable but the idea that the Vatican NEEDS money is laughable.
The Rome's economy is fine, tourists should stay away, remember the new laws about eating in public near any tourist attractions, if you can't afford to eat every meal in a restaurant Rome doesn't want you. Go to Sicily instead, better food and wine and the locals will be happy to see you!
It is what it is. The Vatican is remiss by not allowing tourists to take pictures WITHOUT a flash since those brave soles who are determined to get a visual souvenir will snap away without concern about possible flash damage. But the Vatican is greedy and wants tourists to buy the books in the gift stores and kiosks, thus a "no photography" policy.
If you go to Rome, definitely take the time to see the Sistine Chapel, Vatican museum, and Saint Peter's Basilica. Just make sure you don't buy food at a grocery store or a cafe and eat anywhere in public at a monument or piazza!