Marco Balich, a director of more than 20 opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic, Paralympic and Winter Olympic Games, has turned his creative mind towards the world of attractions, creating a stunning immersive experience allowing visitors to step inside the works of Michelangelo.
Debuted in Rome, Italy, earlier this year, Giudizio Universale: Michelangelo and the Secrets of the Sistine Chapel features an all star line up, with voice acting headlined by Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon and Italian movie star Pierfrancesco Favino.
The musical score for the dramatic piece was composed by British rock star Sting.
Starting in the 16th century with Michelangelo’s famous sculpture David, viewers are taken back in time to the quarries of Carrara on the hunt for the perfect piece of marble, which was used to carve the Renaissance masterpiece.
Continuing through his professional life and work, the experience explores the story behind Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel ceiling, which forms inside the theatre in front of visitor’s eyes.
“With Giudizio Universale, we wanted to create a completely new kind of show, in which the genesis of a masterpiece of universal art is narrated, by mixing all the languages that the world of live entertainment has today,” says Balich. “And we do all this in the most rigorous respect of the work of Michelangelo.”
Balich has a rich portfolio, with his expertise in producing large-scale events applauded worldwide. In addition to his work on the Olympics, he was artistic director of the Italian Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo. He was recognised with an Emmy Award for his work on the Olympics and has received special acknowledgement from the president of Italy, so with such pedigree, it’s no surprise that the Vatican agreed to support the project.
The city-state surrounded by Rome, which is the home of the Pope and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, donated high resolution imagery of the Sistine Chapel at a reduced rate to Balich, also offering scientific and historical advice to ensure Giudizio Universale’s accuracy.
“This project was born and has grown thanks to the support and trust of the Vatican Museums,” says Balich.
“To fulfil this trust we wanted the world’s greatest talents in the entertainment industry that we were able to involve thanks to the experience accumulated in years of great ceremonies. Those events taught us to inject into our creations the two most important ingredients for a successful show – emotion and authenticity.”
Giudizio Universale has been made possible by a private investment of €9m (US$10.4m). The immersive show takes place inside Rome’s former symphony hall – the Auditorium Conciliazione – which sees Michelangelo’s work projected across its walls, ceilings and stage, with dancers and actors also featured to tell the story. The show lasts an hour.
“Using the work of a lifetime to tell the story of a world heritage site as significant as the Sistine Chapel was a privilege and a huge responsibility,” says Balich.
“We like to think that the spectators who will come to see Giudizio Universale – especially the younger ones – can leave the Auditorium Conciliazione inspired by a renewed awareness: there is nothing more exciting than the beauty of art.”
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Rides: Themed dreams
We take a look at some of the major
openings at visitor attractions worldwide
Theme Parks: Fan power
Jordan Middleton explains how operators
can best work with their audiences
Tourism: The Tourist Trap
What role could attractions play to keep
tourism beneficial for residents and
visitors alike? Kath Hudson reports
Conference: Creativity Cocktail
This year’s SATE conference came to the global epicentre for themed entertainment – Orlando – as the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) searched for the secrets to “The Experience Recipe”.
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater is branching out of the waterpark business as it
introduces two new attractions products and its brand new
Vantage guest engagement and management software
Show report: Enabling fun
Tom Anstey was on-hand to see what was
on offer at this year’s Euro Attractions Show
Promotional feature: Simtec - forward thinking
Simtec is a flying theatre and simulator ride supplier
for the attractions industry, as well as a manufacturer
of driving and flight simulation applications
Marco Balich, a director of more than 20 opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic, Paralympic and Winter Olympic Games, has turned his creative mind towards the world of attractions, creating a stunning immersive experience allowing visitors to step inside the works of Michelangelo.
Debuted in Rome, Italy, earlier this year, Giudizio Universale: Michelangelo and the Secrets of the Sistine Chapel features an all star line up, with voice acting headlined by Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon and Italian movie star Pierfrancesco Favino.
The musical score for the dramatic piece was composed by British rock star Sting.
Starting in the 16th century with Michelangelo’s famous sculpture David, viewers are taken back in time to the quarries of Carrara on the hunt for the perfect piece of marble, which was used to carve the Renaissance masterpiece.
Continuing through his professional life and work, the experience explores the story behind Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel ceiling, which forms inside the theatre in front of visitor’s eyes.
“With Giudizio Universale, we wanted to create a completely new kind of show, in which the genesis of a masterpiece of universal art is narrated, by mixing all the languages that the world of live entertainment has today,” says Balich. “And we do all this in the most rigorous respect of the work of Michelangelo.”
Balich has a rich portfolio, with his expertise in producing large-scale events applauded worldwide. In addition to his work on the Olympics, he was artistic director of the Italian Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo. He was recognised with an Emmy Award for his work on the Olympics and has received special acknowledgement from the president of Italy, so with such pedigree, it’s no surprise that the Vatican agreed to support the project.
The city-state surrounded by Rome, which is the home of the Pope and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, donated high resolution imagery of the Sistine Chapel at a reduced rate to Balich, also offering scientific and historical advice to ensure Giudizio Universale’s accuracy.
“This project was born and has grown thanks to the support and trust of the Vatican Museums,” says Balich.
“To fulfil this trust we wanted the world’s greatest talents in the entertainment industry that we were able to involve thanks to the experience accumulated in years of great ceremonies. Those events taught us to inject into our creations the two most important ingredients for a successful show – emotion and authenticity.”
Giudizio Universale has been made possible by a private investment of €9m (US$10.4m). The immersive show takes place inside Rome’s former symphony hall – the Auditorium Conciliazione – which sees Michelangelo’s work projected across its walls, ceilings and stage, with dancers and actors also featured to tell the story. The show lasts an hour.
“Using the work of a lifetime to tell the story of a world heritage site as significant as the Sistine Chapel was a privilege and a huge responsibility,” says Balich.
“We like to think that the spectators who will come to see Giudizio Universale – especially the younger ones – can leave the Auditorium Conciliazione inspired by a renewed awareness: there is nothing more exciting than the beauty of art.”
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Rides: Themed dreams
We take a look at some of the major
openings at visitor attractions worldwide
Theme Parks: Fan power
Jordan Middleton explains how operators
can best work with their audiences
Tourism: The Tourist Trap
What role could attractions play to keep
tourism beneficial for residents and
visitors alike? Kath Hudson reports
Conference: Creativity Cocktail
This year’s SATE conference came to the global epicentre for themed entertainment – Orlando – as the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) searched for the secrets to “The Experience Recipe”.
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater is branching out of the waterpark business as it
introduces two new attractions products and its brand new
Vantage guest engagement and management software
Show report: Enabling fun
Tom Anstey was on-hand to see what was
on offer at this year’s Euro Attractions Show
Promotional feature: Simtec - forward thinking
Simtec is a flying theatre and simulator ride supplier
for the attractions industry, as well as a manufacturer
of driving and flight simulation applications
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
