Built between 1477 and 1480 by Giovanni dei Dolci for Pope Sixtus IV. The exquisite painted ceiling by Michelangelo is one of the must-see attractions of Vatican City. Nearly 5 million visitors in a year, with about 20,000 a day during peak tourist season. There is a major risk to the painted ceiling when about 2,000 visitors at a time bring in dust, carbon dioxide, and sweat. 

My experience while taking a tour was initially overwhelming with how many people they pack into the chapel like sardines. There was a single guard standing on a balcony yelling “Silence” since there was a very strict rule of no talking. It would be difficult to see every inch of the 500-year-old architecture with so many people jammed next to you. It was beautiful inside and out but the experience could have been much better.