I am going to Rome at the end of the month. I'm getting conflicting info on if you are able to take photographs in the Sistine Chapel or not. I had read that the firm who paid for most of the restoration had sole photographic rights for a few years, but someone else said this is wrong. I know that flash photography is a no-no, and I know that the books and postcards will be fabulous, but can I take non-flash photos of my own? Thanks!

Yes, the Sony Corporation paid for the restoration and now owns the photo rights. You are not allowed to take any pictures, even non-flash. You can take photos elsewhere in the Vatican museums.

Despite all that has been said a bout no photos in the Chapel duirng one of my visits there many people took photos albeit not with very strong flashes so don't let Japanese money stop you.

I guess when XXX was there, the guards were very lax. Taking pictures with or without flash is forbidden in the Sistine Chapel. And, when we were there, the guards were very vigilant! As Beth correctly said, you are allowed to take pictures, with flash, is almost all other parts of the Vatican Museum. (There were a couple spots where the guards said no flash, but that was really the exception.)

When I was there last (late 96)people continually took flash photos and were obviously videoing, despite the guards' cries of "no photo", "no video". There were so many people in there, there was no way the guards could prevent it. <BR> <BR>Personally, I respected the wishes of the Vatican and did not take photos. There are loads of postcards and books available with better photos than I could ever take.

I saw the Sistine Chapel years ago (right after Michaelangelo finished it) and photos were allowed. Now, here's the funny part: I was with my grandmother who had this fency-dency camera and was quite a shutterbug (I have all her slides from all her trips and they take up a LOT of room). She never opened the camera, choosing to buy slides in the gift shop. She said the lighting was so poor, the ceiling so far away, the colours so subtle and the crowds too bumping to be able to take a decent photo.