Michelangelo in Chains Virtual Tour: The Tomb for Pope Julius II

Tour Overview

For years we all have been doing tours at the Vatican Museums, where every day thousands of people come to see one of the greatest achievements of the Renaissance’s most iconic artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti: the Sistine Chapel. While contemplating the magnificence of the frescoed ceiling, we forget about the reasons why Michelangelo was forced to paint it and how desperately he had tried to refuse the commission, in the hope of completing the tomb of the pope Julius II. The tomb occupied the life of the great artist for almost 40 years, remaining in his mind like like an annoying background noise from 1505 to 1545. In the end, the final version of the funerary monument turned out to be a disappointment, even an embarrassment. My virtual tour tries to shed light on this very specific aspect of Michelangelo’s career, an aspect that people tend to forget when fascinated by the great successes of the Florentine genius. Together we’ll be analysing personalities of Michelangelo, the paranoid artist, and Julius II, the terrifying pope, tracing the story that transformed the 1505 project into the monument that we can see today in the Roman church of San Pietro in Vincoli. It’s a story of a great ideas, big passions and a dream that tried and failed to come true for almost 40 years.

If the day of the week or start time of this group tour doesn't work for you, please email us at office@througheternity.com to arrange a suitable alternative date.

Tour Description

Meet your Guide: Federica

Hi I'm Federica! I have a degree in Art History from La Sapienza University in Rome, where my studies focused on the Italian Renaissance and its protagonists. A few months later I became a licensed tour guide, and I started working in the most important museums and archaeological areas in Rome. While working with people coming from all over the world, I realised that teaching art is a form of art itself, and that there are many cultural, anthropological, psychological and linguistic obstacles that prevent people from fully understanding what they see. I obtained a Masters degree in Art and Disabilities, which gave me the chance to learn more about the importance of ‘removing the obstacles’ and making culture accessible to everyone. As well as my work for Through Eternity I study sign language, and also teach Contemporary Art in a private academy for young students. 

What Exactly is a Through Eternity Virtual Tour?  

The world of travel might be on hold right now, but just because we're all staying at home to help the world overcome a common enemy doesn't mean we have to put our wanderlust on the back burner. Frustrated with not being able to get our travel fix, we decided to transform our award-winning tours into immersive virtual experiences, meaning you can still explore Italy’s spectacular archaeological sites and jaw-dropping museums from the comfort of your own home.

As a sign of our gratitude to those who are on the front line fighting the Coronavirus, we would be more than happy to invite all first responders, health workers and NHS workers to join our Virtual Tours for free. Please message our office staff directly!

* Please note that the booking times are in US Eastern Standard Time and Rome, Italy CET is 6 hours ahead *

Fun and informative, our virtual tours take the form of online real-time presentations led by our expert guides. Combining videos, high-definition photos and more, our guides will be sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience with you on these interactive walkthroughs of Italy’s most fascinating sites. The live format of our virtual tours means you’ll be able to ask your guide anything you wish, just like on a normal tour. We really believe it's the next best thing to being here!

Please note that the proceeds from our online tours go directly to our guides, providing them with a valuable lifeline in these tough times for the world of travel. Thank you for your support! 

Tour Reviews

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