Sistine Chapel
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The Sistine Chapel is on the northern side of Saint Peter's Basilica. It is usually included in the Vatican Museums' tour itinerary. The Sistine Chapel was completed in 1484 and it is the Pope's private chapel. Its barrel-vaulted ceiling contains the Chapel's bets known feature, Michelangelo's Creation, a fresco that was painted over a period of four years. Over the centuries, the fresco was damaged by candle smoke. Another one of the Chapel's paintings by Michelangelo, Last Judgment had been painted over by order of Pope Pius IV, who was offended by the nudity of the cavorting figures. Both works have been restored marvelously. Masters such as Botticelli, Pinturiccio and Luca Signorelli painted other works in the Chapel. Popes Sixtus V and Pius V are buried in the Sistine Chapel.
