The Sistine Chapel  is a large and renowned chapel of the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. Originally known as the Cappella Magna, the chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it between 1477 and 1480. Since that time, the chapel has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Today it is the site of the Papal conclave, the process by which a new Pope is selected. The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescos that decorate the interior, and most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment by Michelangelo.  That is the history of it.  We did not know what to expect coming into this place because you hear so much about it and so your expectations are high.  There are a lot of people here and almost just as many security guards who are quite serious about people not taking any pictures or shooting any video.  These two activities, as well as talking are strictly prohibited in the Sistine Chapel under the penalty of direct wrath of god himself.    I accepted the challenge and here are some bad images I managed to snap without getting spotted – I could so be 007.