Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition

Over the past 12 months, Melbourne scored its own multi-sensory (and permanent) digital art gallery, Flinders Street Station Ballroom welcomed Patricia Piccinini's latest strange and surreal artworks, and plenty of other dazzling exhibitions have popped up around the city. So yes, while the last year hasn't been great for many reasons, it's still delivered exceptional art — and now a showcase that recreates Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescos is coming to Emporium Melbourne, too.

On display from Saturday, January 22–Sunday, March 20, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is filled with life-sized versions of all the stunning art that has long made the Vatican cathedral a must-visit destination. The showcase's 34 pieces have all been created using a printing technique that emulates the look and feel — and detail, colours and brushstrokes — of the original paintings, so it really is the next best thing to seeing the real thing on the other side of the globe.

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition hits Melbourne after sold-out stops in Chicago, London and San Francisco, and takes between 60–90 minutes to peruse.

Of course, you can still view the OG pieces digitally via the Vatican's online tour — but this'll let you take in the immense detail beyond your computer screen. These artworks have glistened for more than five centuries and, as absolutely everyone knows, they comprise quite the sight.