Rome & Vatican City
We began today’s tour with a visit to the Vatican Museum. When we got there we saw a line of people, without special reservations, halfway around the Vatican waiting to get in, and it didn’t even open for them for another 2 hours. It was so nice to walk past all of them and go right inside!
Our tour began on the terrace which overlooks the Vatican Gardens, the cottage, and has St. Peter’s dome in the background. We were given some history and information on the Vatican and how the museums inside came to be. From there we went inside and began touring the museum. Vatican Museum is actually made up of 23 different museums – so you can’t see it all in one day, but we really had a great overview.
We walked through halls with statues, paintings, tapestries and more. It was very beautiful and quite the sight to see. The colors in the tapestries were so detailed, and they were so intricate with practically a three-dimensional quality to them that some parts stood out from others, and some eyes followed you. It was a very interesting sight!
One room in the museum had a very detailed ceiling that looked like it had frames with different scenes all over it – I was shocked to hear that the ceiling was actually flat and was painted in a three-dimensional manner! They had some amazing skills and it is really amazing that they are still so vivid to see.
From the museums we went in the back way to the Sistine chapel to view Michelangelo’s famous ceiling. The frescoes in here were so amazing to look at! So colorful and detailed, from floor to ceiling. Our guide explained some of the details about what the scenes depicted and who painted what and why. It was breathtaking! They do not allow any photographs to be taken in there though and you must keep your voice down as well, out of respect. The quiet and no flashes though really added to the magnitude of the atmosphere.
From the Sistine Chapel we went out into a courtyard and then the colonnades, past the Jubilee Door, and then into St. Peter’s Basilica. What an incredible place! Even though you always hear that it is the largest christian church in the world it doesn’t really seem like it until you realize how long you have been in there and how much space is really inside. Every square inch is detailed too – just amazingly detailed, it is a lot to take in because everywhere you look you see something new and beautiful.
We of course, lined up and walked past the statue of St. Peter to rub his foot, ensuring our return to Rome someday! People have been rubbing St. Peter’s toes since the 12th century, and although you just lightly brush your fingers across his toes, they have been worn completely smooth. A lot of people must have returned to Rome in these last few centuries!
When we left St. Peter’s we went outside to view the basilica, the 2-armed colonnades welcoming us there, and our guide showed us the Vatican apartments where you can tell if the pope is in residence or not (he wasn’t, he was still at his summer residence when we were there), and the Vatican post office. We then went to a large gift shop where you can buy postcards, Vatican stamps, mosaics and religious items. They have a lot here, and if you buy rosaries or religious items they will have them blessed for you and delivered to your hotel at no extra cost!
Our next tour was of the Roman Colosseum. On the way we drove by the Forum and our guide pointed out Circus Maximus to us as well. They are really just ruins now, so we didn’t need to stop. The Colosseum though, is quite an interesting site. There is a big arch outside of it, and you walk past that on your way to the entrance. Once inside you walk through the different areas and can see where the seats used to be, where the acts were performed, and the ‘basement’ which is where the back-stage stuff happened. The Colosseum was built from 72-80AD so it was neat to experience being in such an ancient place that was built for entertainment.
After our tour we had the choice to join an optional dinner to a Roman restaurant with our guide Karl or to go go off on our own. My husband and I decided to go on our own this evening and we took the hotel shuttle bus to the stop near the Vatican, did a little shopping and then took the metro (subway) to the Spanish Steps. From there we wandered around and made our way to the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navonna. We found a nice little restaurant near there for dinner and had quite an enjoyable evening.
We took a taxi back to the hotel, had a drink out on the terrace and then called it a night. Another wonderful day in Rome has ended. I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite photos of the day!
Vatican Courtyard
St. Peter's Basilica
Inside the basilica, rub St. Peter's foot to ensure your return to Rome one day!
Liz at the Colosseum
The Trevi Fountain - throw a coin in so you will return to Rome some day!
When you mentioned the Sistine Chapel, it reminded me of when I was there. I was so busy trying to take everytning in that a fellow tour member and myself realized that we did not know around us, we were separated from our group. Luckily we were using those headsets, and we heard the guide say will the 2 members who are lost please raise their hands, timidly we rose our hands. She than said now please turn around, we did and there was our group laughing at us.
We’ll be there in about 6 weeks. Nice preview and something to look forward to.
I love the photos! What a fantastic benefit to be able to bypass that line at the Vatican. Your tour is quite impressive! I have seen the Trevi fountain at night, all lit up and gushing. Very romantic. Any memorable dishes tonight? I can taste the prosecco on the terrace from here!