sistine mexico

People wait 2 hours to visit Sistine Chapel replica in Mexico City

Renaissance art lovers in Mexico won’t need to travel to Vatican City to see the glories of the Sistine Chapel.

A private art project has created a temporary replica of the chapel in Mexico’s art deco Monument to the Revolution.

People were lined up on Thursday to see the replica, which is open free to the public through June 30.

“I got the idea two years ago with my brother, inside the Sistine Chapel,” said Gabriel Berumen, creative director and producer of the replica. “When we walked inside and saw its beauty we said ‘Can we replicate this? Of course we can, in Mexico’, that’s when the dream began.”

The Vatican-approved Mexican replica was created using more than 2.7 million photographs printed on cloth and hung from a metal framework. The replica not only includes the frescos of Michelangelo, but sculptures and decorations also adorn the life-size model.

Pope Julius II who was pontiff from 1503 to 1513, hired Michelangelo to paint the ceiling, which was completed in 1512. The nine central panels illustrate the episodes of Genesis, from the creation of man to the fall, the flood and the resurgence of humanity with the family of Noah.

“Particularly in Mexico I think this benefits a lot of people; it’s something marvelous that a lot of people don’t have access to. People who can’t travel to Rome can witness the replica; it’s a blessing,” said Alberto Salvador, exhibit assistant.

It once would have been considered a political miracle as well. Among the Mexican heroes entombed beneath the simulated chapel is Plutarco Elias Calles, the president who led a ferocious crackdown on the church in the 1920s that resulted in open warfare. Tight restrictions on the Catholic church remained in place for more than half a century.

The wait was up to two hours under the hot sun to visit a replica, but well worth the wait according to visitors.

Both those who knew the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, and those who did not, had their expectations exceeded and agreed that it is a splendid exhibition “worth the wait”, despite long lines.

Eva Rodriguez, who has already visited the original work, said 15 minutes were enough to enjoy three-dimensional reproduction of the property.

Manuel Carmona, San Luis Potosi visitor, said he is surprised by the excellent work and happy for the opportunity to see something like this in the country, “because it was like being able to visit Italy.”

Maria Elena Garcia, who arrived from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, was satisfied with the replica: “Yes it was worth it, when you enter you forget the bad organization causing long lines and hot flashes; tomorrow hopefully they will have more organization, this is the first day. “



Trending News on PVDN

  • baja-california-sur-tourism-growthBaja California Sur tourism growth continues despite recent violent events Baja California Sur tourism growth remains strong as nearly two million visitors arrive in early 2025, driven by safety measures and solid hotel occupancy rates. Baja California Sur has seen Baja California Sur tourism growth gather pace in the first half of 2025, drawing nearly two million visitors despite isolated reports of violence. According to…
  • cables-underground-plan-cdmxMexico City Telecommunications Law mandates companies to bury cables underground Mexico City’s new Telecommunications Law mandates burying overhead cables to improve safety, streamline connectivity, and enhance the urban image with a comprehensive cables underground plan. On Thursday, July 10, 2025, Mexico City took a decisive step to modernize its urban landscape and bolster public safety by approving a new Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law that requires…
  • ensenada airportEnsenada international airport project unveiled The Ensenada international airport project will feature a new runway, passenger terminal and commercial zone near Valle de Guadalupe, boosting regional connectivity and tourism with an investment of MXN 5,500 million for the Ensenada international airport. Ensenada will soon join Mexico’s growing network of modern aviation hubs. During the International Civil Airports Council (ACI) congress,…
  • baja california tourist taxGovernment expects 256 million pesos from Baja California Sur tourist tax The Government of Baja California Sur aims to collect up to 256 million pesos in 2025 through the new “Embrace It” foreign visitor contribution, funding infrastructure and sustainability. The Government of Baja California Sur (BCS) plans to raise as much as 256 million pesos in 2025 by expanding a fee charged to international tourists under…
  • texas floodsUS thanks Mexico for sending rescue teams to assist in Texas flood The US government publicly thanked Mexico flood rescue teams for sending firefighters and civil protection specialists to assist search and rescue efforts in Kerrville, Texas, after deadly July 4 weekend floods. The United States government on July 8, 2025, formally thanked Mexico for its swift deployment of emergency personnel to aid search and rescue operations…
  • quintana-roo-sargassum-beaches-report-july-12-2025Sargassum levels hit moderate to excessive on 68% of monitored beaches in Quintana Roo Today, July 12, 2025, 68% of monitored Quintana Roo sargassum beaches report moderate to excessive algae arrivals while 25% remain clean. See the full list of clean and affected shores and learn how authorities are tackling the influx. The annual surge of sargassum has returned to Quintana Roo’s shores, with 68% of monitored beaches reporting…
  • cancun-boosts-tourism-diversification-sargassumCancún boosts tourism diversification to counter sargassum surge Cancún tourism diversification expands beyond beaches to water parks, cultural sites, religious tours and nightlife to tackle sargassum challenges and keep visitors engaged. Cancún’s iconic beaches have long drawn sun-seeking travelers from around the world. This summer, however, an influx of sargassum seaweed threatens that draw. To keep visitor numbers strong and protect local businesses,…
  • guanajuato-free-700-workers-human-trafficking-labor-exploitationGuanajuato Authorities Free 700 Workers in Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation Case An inter-institutional operation in Dolores Hidalgo freed 700 people from a ranch in a human trafficking and labor exploitation case and led to a narcotics probe. Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato - The Guanajuato Attorney General’s Office executed a landmark raid on a rural ranch in Dolores Hidalgo, freeing approximately 700 people who had been subjected to…
  • Volaris Maintains Regular Operations in Puerto Vallarta Despite Strike ThreatNew Volaris Morelia – Puerto Vallarta route boosts tourism Discover how the new Volaris Morelia Puerto Vallarta route will boost tourism, link two top destinations, and foster cultural and economic ties. The government of Mayor Alfonso Martínez Alcázar in Morelia, through the municipal Ministry of Tourism, officially inaugurated a new air connection between Morelia and Puerto Vallarta operated by Volaris. This direct link promises…
  • caribbean-sargassum-forecastCaribbean sargassum predicts 400,000 tons this season impacting coastal ecosystems, reefs and tourism Discover the latest Caribbean sargassum forecast predicting 400,000 tons this season and its impact on coastal ecosystems, reefs and tourism. Mexican coastal communities brace for a historic surge of sargassum seaweed this hurricane season after UNAM researcher Brigitta I. van Tussenbroek warned that an estimated 400,000 tons of the algae will arrive on the Caribbean…