It is often regarded that words do not do justice for historical structures because of their unexplainable nature. This proves true for many landmarks throughout Europe; however, the Vatican is one that has been deemed “a dagger in the heart of Italy”(Paine). The Vatican dates back to the 4th century when the construction began and has since served as a centerpiece of the Catholic Church (History.com). Within Vatican City, travelers often visit locations such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Library or St. Peter 's Square, however, I believe that the Sistine Chapel is an essential location to visit because of the symbolism embedded within the chapel.
The Sistine Chapel is not only one of the most recognizable sanctuaries in the world, but it is also considered the highmark of renaissance art (Szalay). The Sistine Chapel is located in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City and was built in the 1470’s under Pope Sixtus IV (Szalay). Some scholars predict that the dimensions were copied from Solomon 's great temple in Jerusalem (Szalay). While viewers often overlook the chapel because of the rugged exterior appearance, the structures composing the building represent practices in Catholic history such as the Sala Regia built for papal gatherings (The Sistine Chapel). The building consists of three stories which each have an individualized function. For example, the first floor serves as a basement, the second floor, or the main space, serves as the chapel, and the third floor