Who wants to actually travel to the Vatican to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece? And physically crane their neck to look at its spectacular ceiling? The Church’s official website has an excellent, high-res panorama that lets you explore the Sistine Chapel, one of the world’s finest works of art, without ever changing out of your sweatpants. Also: who knew that the Sistine Chapel had a giant copyright notice? [Vatican]
Molokov
Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 10:05 AMRe: The copyright notice – I know that, *now*.
I spent a few hours casually wandering through the Vatican museums (and yep, they have some lovely stuff), saving the Sistine chapel for last. Throughout the museums, you’re allowed to take photos (without flash), but as soon as you’re in the Sistine chapel, there’s guards yelling out “No PHOTO!” every few seconds as the thousands of tourists try and sneak in a shot or two.
I heard later that Nikon helped pay for the restoration work and thus they have copyright on all photographic images taken inside the chapel. You’re not allowed to take your own photos, but feel free to /BUY/ a book full of them…
It soured the whole Vatican experience for me, really.