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The Sistine Chapel is lovely. I don't discount checking a box to say that you've been there. But while you are there, explore more of the vatican museum. There
by chadash 3y ago
The Sistine Chapel is lovely. I don't discount checking a box to say that you've been there. But while you are there, explore more of the vatican museum. There are countless artifacts there that would be the centerpieces of less important museums, but in the context of that museum, they might go unnoticed in a corner. I find this true of tourism in general. 80-95% of the crowds go to 5-20% of the things to do. In the Louvre, it's the Mona Lisa. In the Vatican it's the sistine chapel. Meanwhile there are museums filled with pieces that would probably auction for 8-9 digits, but for whatever reasons, are not well known to the general public and therefore don't get the attention. No one is taking selfies of themselves next to the 17th most valuable painting in the Louvre (much more so the 100th most valuable piece, which is still extremely valuable), but I assure you that the quality of the work is every bit as fantastic as the most famous ones.
- OfSanguineFire 3y agoWhat if the prestige from going places and posting selfies from there, now outweighs the actual value of any of those paintings for many people? I read an interesting article a few days ago about how, due to the smartphone and social media, ordinary people today are basically living like they are performers on TV. When everything they do is focused on performance, there’s less time or interest in contemplatively examining art. The quality of those lesser-known works might matter to you, me, or some others here on HN. But does it matter to enough people now to put any dent in overtourism of the über-famous works?
- interroboink 3y agoOn the other hand: https://xkcd.com/1314/ https://xkcd.com/1314/ (:
- overnight5349 3y agoOh man, I love the Louvre. You could spend days there and not see everything. I spent most of a day there and there were very few people in most of the exhibits, which was really nice. I got to take my time to enjoy the pieces I got to see. I did stop by the Mona Lisa just to say I'd been there, and the crowd around it was really stupid. There are dozens, if not hundreds of much more interesting paintings in the same room and the hallway beyond. I didn't note the name of the painting, but hanging directly opposite the Mona Lisa was a gigantic painting, probably ten feet high and twenty across. Absolutely full of exquisite details. Not a single person paid it any attention. I genuinely don't get it.
- ericbarrett 3y agoThe large painting opposite the Mona Lisa is The Wedding Feast at Cana[0]. And I totally agree, I had the same experience there. Also loved Napoleon’s quarters. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedding_at_Cana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedding_at_Cana
- overnight5349 3y agoNapoleon's quarters? I must have missed that exhibit! I spent too much time in the ancient Rome and Egypt wing, I didn't get to see half the museum
- ericbarrett 3y agoThey’re so interesting! I thought I knew what luxury was until I visited. https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/the-splendour-of-the-second-empire https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/the-splendour-of...
- overnight5349 3y agoOh man, that is so cool! I really regret not seeing it while I was there!
- tweetle_beetle 3y ago> I did stop by the Mona Lisa just to say I'd been there. > I genuinely don't get it. Being snobbish about the behaviour or the masses is less tenable when you are doing the same thing as them.
- overnight5349 3y agoIt's okay, the internet comment can't actually hurt you