St Peter's Basilica

After the crowded Sistine Chapel it was nice to step into the cool vastness of St. Peter's. We visit cathedrals wherever we go in Europe but this was the most impressive of all and it's sheer size had much to do with that. Since this trip last September I have purchased an ultra wide lens (10 -22mm) to help me get more in the shot in places such as this. You may spend a lot of time looking up

The "Pieta"- draws a crowd and is behind glass since it was attacked and defaced in 1972.

Michaelangelo sculpted it from 1498-99. It depicts Mary holding her son after his Crucifixion.

The lettering around the inside of the dome is 6ft 6 inches tall and above is a circular viewing platform. We didn't have time to go up there, alas.

This structure is 95 feet high!

I didn't hear all of Massimo's narration as we walked through the Basilica as I would have to stop to take photos while he and Carol moved on. Much of what I know about the church I later learned from Wikipedia-go there and search as it's a fascinating read.

Soon we were back outside as our tour was at it's end.

Chairs have been set out as tomorrow (Sunday) the Pope would be giving a blessing from the steps at the entrance to the Basilica. Franco offered to get us tickets but we didn't want to have to deal with the vast crowds that would be here. Tomorrow was to be a more relaxing day for us.

 Television crews were setting up large video screens to show close-ups of the Pope

Franco was of course nearby in a narrow street waiting for our return. At this point we had to reluctantly say goodbye to Massimo. We thanked him and paid him including a generous and well-earned tip.

Back into the car and on our way to our hotel-at last!

Vatican Museum part II

Anytime I saw a window open to the outside I took a look at the beautiful scenery. Beauty within and without...

But we had to keep moving as there was so much to see and the clock was ticking.

Some of the rooms have security guards at the entrances which are roped off. There are different tours with different routes happening simultaneously. Massimo joked with some of the guards as he passed- he seemed to be well known-this would come in handy....

Carol had asked him about some Raphael paintings she had learned about in college- the School of Athens. Massimo said we were close by. When we got to that room there was a rope and a security guard blocking the door. A tour group was already in there. Massimo spoke to the guard-the guard laughed-the rope was lifted and we were in! Carol was thrilled.

By this time were were approaching the Sistine Chapel and so I packed my camera away as photography is not permitted. There was a crush of people in the doorway and the interior was a mass of closely-packed people staring upwards. See google images as I have no photos to share. Guards are there to make sure the cameras aren't used and to keep the crowd quiet as there is a babble and much pointing at the ceiling-and now I know why. It has to be seen to be believed.

There were some benches around the walls of the room and Massimo went up to some young ladies sitting on one and spoke to them. In seconds they got up and he motioned over to Carol to come sit!
What an excellent, considerate guide and what a smooth talker he must be. We were very lucky to have him-so knowledgeable, witty and a gentleman. If we do the tour again in the future (and there's so much to see that one visit is not enough), we will ask for him specially through Rome in Limo.

The Chapel was the end of our Museum tour and we sat for a while in a marble hallway to decompress.

Next would be something even more impressive-St Peter's Basilica.

I reached for my camera....

Vatican Museum part I

On the sidewalk by the entrance door to the Vatican Museum we were introduced to Massimo, our Rome in Limo guide for this tour.

He was a big man with big energy and a big voice. Our fee for the tour (not the entrance tickets as it was FREE today-International Tourist Day apparently) was E 150, two people two hours.

Massimo talked fast but his English was very good. He led the way and we followed. There is a security line just inside the door where you have to open bags etc. Photography is allowed EXCEPT in the Sistine Chapel.

Massimo found that he had two art lovers and one art historian in the form of Carol. When he found out from her questions that she knew her stuff he became our best friend and was literally bouncing up and down with excitement. He addressed us each time he would start a lecture with "Carol and Norris..."and used an iPad which he viewed upside down to illustrate his points.

The iPad in use showing us Michaelangelo putting himself in one of his paintings....

At street level in the Museum, in the vast lobby, is a scale model of  Vatican City

There are stairs down to the lower levels but we took an elevator instead

And on this level an opportunity to step outside for some fresh air

For the next two hours though we will be indoors looking at art-great art.

The floors are beautiful, the walls are adorned with wonderful art and the ceilings....don't forget to look UP!

Tapestries on the wall

Sarcophagus

Egyptian Mummy

A view to the outside

Scaffolding- summer is the time for renovations the world over

Giant tapestries

Look up!

To be continued...

Let's eat!!

Franco's plan was to eat near the Vatican so we got in the car.  I took random photos through the window as we drove.

 Victor Emmanuel II Monument, known to the locals as "the Typewriter" because of it's shape.

There's a rooftop viewing platform reached by an elevator and it's something we'll have to visit next time.

As we were close and wouldn't have time to visit after the Vatican , Franco drove us back into the narrow streets so that we could see the Trevi Fountain. I knew it was closed for renovations but he took us anyway.

As you can see the fountain was dry but there was a long line of people wanting to walk the catwalk over it. The area was very crowded and so we didn't stay long. Each minute we spent here was one less minute for lunch and we needed to eat. Back to the car for a drive north to the Vatican on wide streets.

Franco pulled up outside a restaurant called Osteria Dei Pontifici (see my review on Trip Advisor). It sat on a wide, tree-lined street, in a non-tourist area. It had tables outside which is what we hoped for.
While we found a table Franco went in and spoke to the waiters.

Service was prompt, friendly and efficient.

The view from our table

Bruschetta to start

Prosciutto with melon

For me, oven roasted veal with roast potatoes. I already had eaten a bowl of spaghetti al pomodoro (tomato sauce) before this arrived but it didn't get photographed.

Carol's veal marsala

We only had 75 minutes or so to eat lunch and by the end of our time we were so full that we decided to skip dessert as we had a lot of walking ahead in the Vatican and it was time to leave this excellent restaurant. Franco was waiting for us and within 5 minutes we were stopping at the Vatican Museum where our guide was waiting to take us on a two hour tour....