Michelangelo’s most famous work is here with a spectacular exhibition now open at Festival Hall in Charleston. These iconic frescoes have decorated the walls in Vatican City for over 500 years, and we couldn’t believe how they came to life in our own city.
The beautiful paintings are part of a life-sized display that can be viewed up close for a truly unique perspective. After wowing guests in cities including Charlotte, Atlanta, and Chicago, this one-of-a-kind experience is expanding across the rest of North America and Europe. We couldn’t be more thrilled to see it arrive in Charleston—and get the chance to view these masterpieces up-close without a flight to Italy!
LA-based SEE Global Entertainment (SEE™), a family of companies that specialize in global touring exhibitions, will briefly transform Festival Hall into the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
The iconic church serves as a stunning, modern backdrop for the exhibition of ancient artworks. See these breathtaking paintings come to life through high-quality, licensed photographs and a special printing technique that reproduces the original paintings’ look and feel.
We were treated to a truly special view of the artist’s 34 frescoes that was never before possible – not even at the Vatican! We saw every detail, color, and brushstroke up close and at our own pace. All works are accompanied by informative signage, and there are audio guides available to rent to learn even more about the exhibition. The family-friendly experience lasts about 60 to 90 minutes.
The Sistine Chapel was painted between 1508 and 1512 in Michelangelo’s signature fresco style, where he used wet paint on the freshly plastered walls and ceilings of the Apostolic Palace in Rome, Italy.
The fresco method of painting makes the work blend into the plastered surface it’s painted on over time. Michelangelo finished his work between 1535 and 1541 with the renowned piece, titled The Last Judgment, which you can also marvel at in this innovative and cutting-edge interpretation of one of the world’s most famous interior paintings. This enchanting experience showcases dozens of his stunning creations.